What is the detection efficiency of MCPs?
A.- The detection efficiency of a Microchannel Plate (MCP) is an important performance parameter. In many applications, the abundance of the signals to be detected is quite small. And, therefore, it is important that every photon and every ion be detected and added to the signal statistics. Some of the features that can affect the detection efficiency of a microchannel plate are the: • Open area ratio (OAR) – The open area ratio is the percentage of the entire area of the microchannel plate which consists of open pores. Open area ratios range from 50-70% for most MCPs. Increased OAR often improves the collection efficiency and optimises detector sensitivity. • Bias angle – The bias angle of a microchannel plate is the angle of the channels from the perpendicular or normal to the MCP surface. MCPs are typically manufactured with bias angles of 5~300. MCPs with channels running perpendicular to the MCP surface (00 bias) are used for collimation and filtration applications. The detection
