Microchannel plate (MCP) detectors have been the detector of choice for ultraviolet (UV) instruments onboard many NASA missions. These detectors have many advantages, including high spatial resolution (<20 mu m), photon counting, radiation hardness, large formats (up to 20 cm), and ability for curved focal plane matching. Novel borosilicate glass MCPs with atomic layer deposition combine extremely low backgrounds, high strength, and tunable secondary electron yield. GaN and combinations of bialkali/alkali halide photocathodes show promise for broadband, higher quantum efficiency. Cross-strip anodes combined with compact ASIC readout electronics enable high spatial resolution over large formats with high dynamic range. The technology readiness levels of these technologies are each being advanced through research grants for laboratory testing and rocket flights. Combining these capabilities would be ideal for UV instruments onboard the Large UV/Optical/IR Surveyor (LUVOIR) and the Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission (HABEX) concepts currently under study for NASA's Astrophysics Decadal Survey.

The Ram Energy Distribution Detector (REDD) is a new CubeSat-compatible space science instrument that measures neutral wind characteristics in the upper atmosphere. Neutral gas interactions with plasma in the ionosphere/thermosphere are responsible for spacecraft drag, radio frequency disturbances such as scintillation, and other geophysical phenomena. REDD is designed to collect in-situ measurements within this region of the atmosphere where in-flight data collection using spacecraft has proven particularly challenging due to both the atmospheric density and the dominating presence of highly reactive atomic oxygen (AO). NASA Marshall Space Flight Center has a unique AO Facility (AOF) capable of simulating the conditions the sensor will encounter on orbit by creating a supersonic neutral beam of AO. Collimating the beam requires an intense magnetic field that creates significant interference for sensitive electronic devices. REDD is undergoing the final stages of validation testing in the AOF. In this presentation, we describe the LabVIEW-automated system design, the measured geometry and magnitude of the field and the specially designed mount and passive shielding that are utilized to mitigate the effects of the magnetic interference. / Master of Science

Master of Science / Department of Physics / Itzhak Ben-Itzhak / Imaging the interaction of molecular ion beams with ultrafast intense laser fields is a very powerful method to understand the fragmentation dynamics of molecules. Femtosecond laser pulses with different wavelengths and intensities are applied to dissociate and ionize molecular ions, and each resulting fragmentation channel can be studied separately by implementing a coincidence three-dimensional (3D) momentum imaging method. The work presented in this master’s report can be separated into two parts. First, the interaction between molecular ion beams and femtosecond laser pulses, in particular, the dissociation of CO[superscript]+ into C[superscript]++O, is studied. For that purpose, measurements are conducted at different laser intensities and wavelengths to investigate the possible pathways of dissociation into C[superscript]++O. The study reveals that CO[superscript]+ starts to dissociate from the quartet electronic state at low laser intensities. Higher laser intensity measurements, in which a larger number of photons can be absorbed by the molecule, show that the doublet electronic states with deeper potential wells, e.g. A [superscript]2Π, contribute to the dissociation of the molecule. In addition, the three-body fragmentation of CO[subscript]2[superscript]+ into C[superscript]++O[superscript]++O[superscript]+ is studied, and two breakup scenarios are separated using the angle between the sum and difference of the momentum vectors of two O[superscript]+ fragments. In the second part, improvements in experimental techniques are discussed. Development of a reflective telescope setup intended to increase the conversion efficiency of ultraviolet (UV) laser pulse generation is described, and the setup is used in the studies of CO[superscript]+ dissociation described in this report. The other technical study presented here is the measurement of the position dependence of timing signals picked off of a microchannel plate (MCP) surface. The experimental method is presented and significant time spread over the surface of the MCP detector is reported [1].

In-situ composition measurements of the mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT) are challenging; this region is only accessible via high-speed sounding rockets, ambient pressures extend into the 10-3 Torr range, and particles of interest range in mass from electrons to meteoric smoke and dust particles. Time-of-flight mass spectrometers (TOF-MS) are capable of making fast, accurate measurements over a wide mass range. However, since they rely on pressure-sensitive microchannel plate (MCP) detectors and high voltages, they have rarely been applied at these altitudes. A new TOF-MS for making in-situ composition measurements in the MLT has been developed at the Space Dynamics Laboratory. This instrument employs modest acceleration potentials and a pressure-tolerant MCP detector. A Bradbury-Nielsen gate is used to produce short, well-defined ion pulses to reduce the temporal and spatial uncertainty of sampled ions. A prototype TOF-MS was constructed and used to demonstrate TOF-MS technology under conditions relevant to in-situ MLT measurements. Operational boundaries and capabilities of this new instrument were identified through laboratory experiments combined with computer modeling. The prototype instrument achieved a maximum resolution of 100 at m/z 40 (Ar), sufficient to resolve major atmospheric species of interest. During experiments at elevated pressures, the MCP detector maintained low background count rates (/second) at pressures as high as 10-3 Torr. A novel getter-based vacuum system was evaluated for use with the new TOF-MS, and a computer model was developed to simulate instrument pressure during a rocket flight. Results from these experiments suggest that when combined with an appropriately sized sampling aperture, this pumping system can extend the measurement range of the instrument to lower altitudes by 10 – 20 km, compared to an unpumped instrument. A computer model was developed to study the effects of critical operating parameters on instrument performance; the most important factor affecting resolution was found to be the initial energy spread of sampled ions. Sensitivity and number density measurement analyses suggest the new instrument will measure major species in the MLT at better than 10% uncertainty. Composition measurements made with the new TOF-MS will contribute to a better understanding of the MLT.

The aim of this research was to demonstrate a high current and stable field emission (FE) source based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and electron multiplier microchannel plate (MCP) and design efficient field emitters. In recent years various CNT based FE devices have been demonstrated including field emission displays, x-ray source and many more. However to use CNTs as source in high powered microwave (HPM) devices higher and stable current in the range of few milli-amperes to amperes is required. To achieve such high current we developed a novel technique of introducing a MCP between CNT cathode and anode. MCP is an array of electron multipliers; it operates by avalanche multiplication of secondary electrons, which are generated when electrons strike channel walls of MCP. FE current from CNTs is enhanced due to avalanche multiplication of secondary electrons and in addition MCP also protects CNTs from irreversible damage during vacuum arcing. Conventional MCP is not suitable for this purpose due to the lower secondary emission properties of their materials. To achieve higher and stable currents we have designed and fabricated a unique ceramic MCP consisting of high SEY materials. The MCP was fabricated utilizing optimum design parameters, which include channel dimensions and material properties obtained from charged particle optics (CPO) simulation. Child Langmuir law, which gives the optimum current density from an electron source, was taken into account during the system design and experiments. Each MCP channel consisted of MgO coated CNTs which was chosen from various material systems due to its very high SEY. With MCP inserted between CNT cathode and anode stable and higher emission current was achieved. It was ~25 times higher than without MCP. A brighter emission image was also evidenced due to enhanced emission current. The obtained results are a significant technological advance and this research holds promise for electron source in new generation lightweight, efficient and compact microwave devices for telecommunications in satellites or space applications. As part of this work novel emitters consisting of multistage geometry with improved FE properties were was also developed.

Durch die Fokussierung eines ultrakurzen und hochintensiven Laserpulses auf ein Festkörpertarget können Pulse von Protonen und anderen positiv geladenen Ionen mit Teilchenenergien von einigen MeV pro Nukleon erzeugt werden. Die Charakterisierung dieser Teilchenstrahlung erfordert die Identifizierung der Ionenspezies und die Bestimmung ihrer spektralen Verteilung möglichst nach jedem Puls. Im Rahmen dieser Diplomarbeit wurden zwei Spektrometer entwickelt und am DRACO-Lasersystem des Forschungszentrums Dresden implementiert. Neben der Inbetriebnahme eines Thomson-Spektrometers mit einer Mikrokanalplatte und einem Fluoreszenzschirm als Auslese erfolgte die Entwicklung eines Flugzeitspektrometers. Die Verwendung einer Mikrokanalplatte mit nur 180ps Anstiegszeit als Signalverstärker sorgt darin für eine verbesserte Energieauflösung und einen flexibleren Einsatz im Experimentierbetrieb. Ein dem Flugzeitsignal überlagertes Störsignal, welches durch die Einstreuungen eines elektromagnetischen Impulses in den Aufbau verursacht wurde, konnte erfolgreich durch die Anwendung verschiedener Filter unterdrückt werden. Als Ergebnis dieser Arbeit steht eine anwendungsbereite Diagnostik für laserbeschleunigte Protonen und Ionen zur Verfügung. / By focusing an ultra-short high-intensity laser pulse on a solid target, pulses of protons and other positive charged ions with energies of several MeV per nucleon are generated. It is necessary to identify the species of those particles and obtain their energy spectra in a single-shot regime. Within this diploma thesis two spectrometers have been developed and implemented in the DRACO-laboratory of the Forschungszentrum Dresden. Besides a Thomson spectrometer with read-out via microchannel plate and phosphor screen, a time-of-flight spectrometer was developed. The usage of a microchannel plate with 180ps rise time as a signal amplifier leads therein to a better energy resolution and a more flexible handling in experimental operation. A noise signal generated by stray pick-up of an electromagnetic pulse and superimposing the time-of-flight signal was considerably reduced by the application of different filters. As a result of this work a ready-to-use diagnostic for laser accelerated protons and ions is available.

Durch die Fokussierung eines ultrakurzen und hochintensiven Laserpulses auf ein Festkörpertarget können Pulse von Protonen und anderen positiv geladenen Ionen mit Teilchenenergien von einigen MeV pro Nukleon erzeugt werden. Die Charakterisierung dieser Teilchenstrahlung erfordert die Identifizierung der Ionenspezies und die Bestimmung ihrer spektralen Verteilung möglichst nach jedem Puls. Im Rahmen dieser Diplomarbeit wurden zwei Spektrometer entwickelt und am DRACO-Lasersystem des Forschungszentrums Dresden implementiert. Neben der Inbetriebnahme eines Thomson-Spektrometers mit einer Mikrokanalplatte und einem Fluoreszenzschirm als Auslese erfolgte die Entwicklung eines Flugzeitspektrometers. Die Verwendung einer Mikrokanalplatte mit nur 180ps Anstiegszeit als Signalverstärker sorgt darin für eine verbesserte Energieauflösung und einen flexibleren Einsatz im Experimentierbetrieb. Ein dem Flugzeitsignal überlagertes Störsignal, welches durch die Einstreuungen eines elektromagnetischen Impulses in den Aufbau verursacht wurde, konnte erfolgreich durch die Anwendung verschiedener Filter unterdrückt werden. Als Ergebnis dieser Arbeit steht eine anwendungsbereite Diagnostik für laserbeschleunigte Protonen und Ionen zur Verfügung. / By focusing an ultra-short high-intensity laser pulse on a solid target, pulses of protons and other positive charged ions with energies of several MeV per nucleon are generated. It is necessary to identify the species of those particles and obtain their energy spectra in a single-shot regime. Within this diploma thesis two spectrometers have been developed and implemented in the DRACO-laboratory of the Forschungszentrum Dresden. Besides a Thomson spectrometer with read-out via microchannel plate and phosphor screen, a time-of-flight spectrometer was developed. The usage of a microchannel plate with 180ps rise time as a signal amplifier leads therein to a better energy resolution and a more flexible handling in experimental operation. A noise signal generated by stray pick-up of an electromagnetic pulse and superimposing the time-of-flight signal was considerably reduced by the application of different filters. As a result of this work a ready-to-use diagnostic for laser accelerated protons and ions is available.