The invention provides a gain device having a plurality of channels having a polygonal shape with four or more sides. The invention also provides a method for producing microchannel plates (MCPs) having the steps of providing a pre-polymer; and directing a laser over the pre-polymer into a pre-determined pattern. Also provided is method for efficiently 3D printing an object.

A method of manufacturing a multi-layer image intensifier wafer includes fabricating first and second glass wafers, each having an array of cavities that extend between respective openings in first and second surfaces of the respective glass wafer; doping a semiconductor wafer to generate a plurality of electrons for each electron that impinges a first surface of the semiconductor wafer and to direct the plurality of electrons to a second surface of the semiconductor wafer, bonding a photo-cathode wafer to the first glass wafer; bonding the semiconductor wafer between the first and second glass wafers, and bonding the second glass wafer between the semiconductor wafer and an anode wafer (e.g., a phosphor screen or other electron detector). A section of the multi-layer image intensifier wafer may be sliced and evacuated to provide a multi-layer image intensifier.

An electron multiplier production method including a main body portion, and a channel provided in the main body portion to open at one end surface and the other end surface of the main body portion and emits secondary electrons includes a first step of preparing a main body member including the one end surface and the other end surface, a communicating hole for the channel through which the one end surface and the other end surface communicate being provided in the main body member, a second step of forming the channel by forming a deposition layer including at least a resistive layer on an outer surface of the main body member and an inner surface of the communicating hole using an atomic layer deposition method, and a third step of forming the main body portion by removing the deposition layer formed on the outer surface of the main body member.

An electron multiplier production method including a main body portion, and a channel provided in the main body portion to open at one end surface and the other end surface of the main body portion and emits secondary electrons includes a first step of preparing a main body member including the one end surface and the other end surface, a communicating hole for the channel through which the one end surface and the other end surface communicate being provided in the main body member, a second step of forming the channel by forming a deposition layer including at least a resistive layer on an outer surface of the main body member and an inner surface of the communicating hole using an atomic layer deposition method, and a third step of forming the main body portion by removing the deposition layer formed on the outer surface of the main body member.

A secondary electron emissive layer resistant to infiltration and fouling. A barrier layer is formed by atomic layer deposition. The barrier layer may be an emissive layer and/or an interlayer. The barrier layer may form an interlayer that is a part of an electron amplifier positioned between an emissive layer and a resistive layer. The barrier layer is resistive to fluorine migration from either the emissive layer or the resistive layer.

A night vision system along with an image intensifier tube having a microchannel plate and method of forming the microchannel plate are provided. The microchannel plate comprises a plurality of spaced channels extending through the microchannel plate, wherein each channel sidewall surface near the input face of the microchannel plate comprises a series of layers formed thereon. The input face of the microchannel plate, as well as the sidewall surfaces of each channel near the input surfaces, are configured with an electron backscatter layer arranged between a contact metal layer and a secondary electron booster layer. When formed partially into the channel openings near the input face, the electron backscatter layer and overlying secondary electron booster layer are configured circumferentially around the sidewall surfaces and extend radially inward toward a central axis of each channel.

A night vision system along with an image intensifier tube having a microchannel plate and method of forming the microchannel plate are provided. The microchannel plate comprises a plurality of spaced channels extending through the microchannel plate, wherein each channel sidewall surface near the input face of the microchannel plate comprises a series of layers formed thereon. The input face of the microchannel plate, as well as the sidewall surfaces of each channel near the input surfaces, are configured with an electron backscatter layer arranged between a contact metal layer and a secondary electron booster layer. When formed partially into the channel openings near the input face, the electron backscatter layer and overlying secondary electron booster layer are configured circumferentially around the sidewall surfaces and extend radially inward toward a central axis of each channel.

Techniques produce integrated native metal oxide discrete elements which can be used to fabricate discrete dynode electron multiplier (DDEM) devices, for example by creating dynodes with a native oxide as secondary electron emissive (SEE) layer from a metal block. The metal block may comprise or consist of a metal base component, for example Al, Al alloys or BeCu, of metal oxide SEE materials Al2O3 or BeO. Growing a native oxide from these base metals, Al2O3 or BeO eliminates the need of a costly and time-consuming SEE coating on the dynode surface. Furthermore, aluminum alloys offer intrinsic dopant, in particular magnesium where its oxide provides a higher secondary electron yield than the aluminum oxide. The use of aluminum, its alloys or BeCu material block allows flexibility in design and fabrication of DDEM without an SEE coating process.

The invention provides a gain device having a plurality of channels having a polygonal shape with four or more sides. The invention also provides a method for producing microchannel plates (MCPs) having the steps of providing a pre-polymer; and directing a laser over the pre-polymer into a pre-determined pattern. Also provided is method for efficiently 3D printing an object.

The invention provides a gain device having a plurality of channels having a polygonal shape with four or more sides. The invention also provides a method for producing microchannel plates (MCPs) having the steps of providing a pre-polymer; and directing a laser over the pre-polymer into a pre-determined pattern. Also provided is method for efficiently 3D printing an object.