PROXIMITY FOCUSED STREAK TUBE AND STREAK CAMERA USING THE SAME

摘要

Abstract of the DisclosureProximity focused streak tube having a photocathodefor converting photon images into photoelectrons. Aphosphorous screen is provided for receiving the photo-electrons. The photocathode and the phosphorous screendefine a longitudinal tube axis. A passive channel plateis provided which has a plurality of parallel bores therein.The channel plate is disposed in relatively close proximityto the photocathode and so that the bores are inclined atan angle with respect to longitudinal tube axis so as tominimize feedthrough of visible photons. A source ofvoltage is connected between the photocathode and thepassive channel plate causing the photoelectrons to beextracted from the photocathode and to pass through thebores in the channel plate. First and second spaced apartbeamselectrodes are disposed between the channel plate andthe phosphorous screen. Another voltage source isutilized for applying a voltage differential betweenthe beam electrodes to cause the photoelectrons to movein the direction across the screen. The beam electrodesare arranged asymmetrically of the tube axis to compensatefor the inclination of the channel plate with respect tothe tube axis. The passive channel plate is very flat sothat the voltage differential which is applied betweenthe photocathode and the channel plate can be relativelyhigh to provide a high electron field. A fiber opticinput is utilized which is also inclined at anaanglewith respect to the longitudinal tube axis so that thefiber optic bundles are in alignment with the boresprovided in the faceplate. A fiber optic output windowis provided which carries the phosphorous screen andprovides the luminous streaked images which are photo-graphed.