Microchannel plate resistance at cryogenic temperatures

The resistance R of a “low-resistance” microchannel plate (MCP) electron multiplier was measured over the extended temperature range 4–293 K. The ratio R(T)/R(293 K) reached values of 102, 103 and 106 at temperatures T=59, 40 and 19 K, respectively. These results are interpreted in terms of variable range hopping conduction mechanisms in the reduced lead silicate MCP glass. The results may be important for cryogenic charged particle detection using MCPs, as, for example, in a recent proposal for a quantum computer.