MICROPLASMA NIGHT VISION DEVICE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a night vision device which is inexpensive and has a high photon amplification factor.SOLUTION: A microplasma night vision device 10 comprises: a photocathode 12; a transparent electrode 14 opposed to the photocathode; and a plurality of plasma cavities 16 positioned between the photocathode and the transparent electrode and containing an ionic gas. The plasma cavities are arranged in an array having rows and columns, and each plasma cavity corresponds to an image pixel. A voltage less than a threshold voltage necessary for plasma ignition is applied between the photocathode and the transparent electrode by a voltage source 18. In such a configuration, when incident photons A enter the photocathode, electrons are released into the plasma cavities, and plasma is ignited. The ignited plasma may persist so long as the flow of electrons persists, and may have a color and intensity. The ignited plasma may be viewed as visible light B through the transparent electrode.