Advanced MCP sensors for UV/visible astronomy and biology

Microchannel plate-based sensors are currently benefiting from significant advances in basic technology. These include photocathodes such as diamond, GaN and GaAs, silicon microchannel plates, and cross strip, and cross delay line photon counting readouts. Performance enhancements now extend to quantum efficiencies in excess of 50%, background event rates less than 0.02 events cm−2 s−1, and spatial resolutions of <5 μm offering new possibilities in astronomical and biological applications.