Progress towards a microchannel plate detector with AlGaN photocathode and cross-strip anode for ultraviolet astronomy

TL;DR

This paper reports progress in developing an advanced UV detector using AlGaN photocathodes on MCPs and a novel FPGA-based centroiding algorithm to enhance UV astronomy instrumentation.

Contribution

It introduces a new AlGaN photocathode coating on MCPs and a non-iterative FPGA-based centroiding algorithm for improved UV detector performance.

Findings

Enhanced quantum detection efficiency in far- and extreme-UV

Successful implementation of FPGA-based centroiding algorithm

Progress towards more sensitive, compact UV detectors

Abstract

Microchannel plates (MCPs) were the driving detector technology for ultraviolet (UV) astronomy over many years, and still today MCP-based detectors are the baseline for several planned UV instruments. The development of advanced MCP detectors is ongoing and pursues the major goals of maximizing sensitivity, resolution, and lifetime, while at the same time decreasing weight, volume, and power consumption. Development efforts for an MCP-based detector system for the UV are running at IAAT at the University of T\"ubingen. In this publication, we present our latest results towards coating aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) photocathodes directly on MCPs, to improve quantum detection efficiency in the far- and extreme-UV. Furthermore, we report on the implementation of a non-iterative centroiding algorithm for our coplanar cross-strip anode directly in an FPGA.