A light intensifier includes a semiconductor structure to multiply electrons and block stray particles (e.g., photons and/or ions). The semiconductor structure includes an electron multiplier region that is doped to generate a plurality of electrons for each electron that impinges a reception surface of the semiconductor structure, blocking regions that are doped to direct the plurality of electrons towards emissions areas of an emission surface of the semiconductor structure, and shielding regions that are doped to absorb stray particles that impinge the emission surface of the semiconductor structure.

A light intensifier includes a semiconductor structure to multiply electrons and block stray particles (e.g., photons and/or ions). The semiconductor structure includes an electron multiplier region that is doped to generate a plurality of electrons for each electron that impinges a reception surface of the semiconductor structure, blocking regions that are doped to direct the plurality of electrons towards emissions areas of an emission surface of the semiconductor structure, and shielding regions that are doped to absorb stray particles that impinge the emission surface of the semiconductor structure.

A night vision system, a microchannel plate (MCP), and a planetary deposition system and methodology are provided for selectively depositing an electrode contact metal on one side of MCP channel openings. MCPs can be secured to a face of a platter that rotates about its central platter axis. The rotating platter can be tilted on a fixture surrounding an evaporative source of contact metal. A mask with a variable size mask opening is arranged between the rotating platter and the evaporative source. While the mask orbits around the evaporative source with the rotating platter, the mask does not rotate along its own axis as does the rotating platter. Depending on the opening of the non-rotating mask, and the tilt angle of the rotating platter, the respective circumferential distance around and the depth into the shaded first side of the channel opening is controlled.

A night vision system, a microchannel plate (MCP), and a planetary deposition system and methodology are provided for selectively depositing an electrode contact metal on one side of MCP channel openings. MCPs can be secured to a face of a platter that rotates about its central platter axis. The rotating platter can be tilted on a fixture surrounding an evaporative source of contact metal. A mask with a variable size mask opening is arranged between the rotating platter and the evaporative source. While the mask orbits around the evaporative source with the rotating platter, the mask does not rotate along its own axis as does the rotating platter. Depending on the opening of the non-rotating mask, and the tilt angle of the rotating platter, the respective circumferential distance around and the depth into the shaded first side of the channel opening is controlled.

An ion detector includes: a first electron multiplier for detecting first ions having a first polarity; a second electron multiplier for detecting second ions having a second polarity different from the first polarity; a first anode for capturing electrons emitted from the first electron multiplier; a second anode for capturing electrons emitted from the second electron multiplier; and a switching circuit including a first input terminal electrically connected to the first anode, a second input terminal electrically connected to the second anode, and an output terminal, the switching circuit selectively connecting one of the first input terminal and the second input terminal to the output terminal.

An ion detector includes: a first electron multiplier for detecting first ions having a first polarity; a second electron multiplier for detecting second ions having a second polarity different from the first polarity; a first anode for capturing electrons emitted from the first electron multiplier; a second anode for capturing electrons emitted from the second electron multiplier; and a switching circuit including a first input terminal electrically connected to the first anode, a second input terminal electrically connected to the second anode, and an output terminal, the switching circuit selectively connecting one of the first input terminal and the second input terminal to the output terminal.

A detector for an electron multiplier comprising: a substrate comprising a dielectric material, the substrate having a first face and an opposing second face; a charge collector provided adjacent the first face of the substrate; an anode within the substrate, the anode spaced from first face, such that the anode is capacitively coupled to the charge collector, so that charge incident on the charge collector generates an image charge on the anode; and a conduit contact, coupled to the anode and passing through the substrate to the second face of the substrate layer.

A detector for an electron multiplier comprising: a substrate comprising a dielectric material, the substrate having a first face and an opposing second face; a charge collector provided adjacent the first face of the substrate; an anode within the substrate, the anode spaced from first face, such that the anode is capacitively coupled to the charge collector, so that charge incident on the charge collector generates an image charge on the anode; and a conduit contact, coupled to the anode and passing through the substrate to the second face of the substrate layer.

A night vision system, a microchannel plate (MCP), and a planetary deposition system and methodology are provided for selectively depositing an electrode contact metal on one side of MCP channel openings. MCPs can be secured to a face of a platter that rotates about its central platter axis. The rotating platter can be tilted on a fixture surrounding an evaporative source of contact metal. A mask with a variable size mask opening is arranged between the rotating platter and the evaporative source. While the mask orbits around the evaporative source with the rotating platter, the mask does not rotate along its own axis as does the rotating platter. Depending on the opening of the non-rotating mask, and the tilt angle of the rotating platter, the respective circumferential distance around and the depth into the shaded first side of the channel opening is controlled.

A night vision system, a microchannel plate (MCP), and a planetary deposition system and methodology are provided for selectively depositing an electrode contact metal on one side of MCP channel openings. MCPs can be secured to a face of a platter that rotates about its central platter axis. The rotating platter can be tilted on a fixture surrounding an evaporative source of contact metal. A mask with a variable size mask opening is arranged between the rotating platter and the evaporative source. While the mask orbits around the evaporative source with the rotating platter, the mask does not rotate along its own axis as does the rotating platter. Depending on the opening of the non-rotating mask, and the tilt angle of the rotating platter, the respective circumferential distance around and the depth into the shaded first side of the channel opening is controlled.