Advanced Photon Counting Imaging Detectors with 100ps timing for Astronomical and Space Sensing Applications

We describe our recent advances in UV-Visible ground and spaceborne detectors that possess the unique ability to record photon X,Y,T high fidelity information. Such sensors have distinct advantages for high speed recording devices for some important time dependent applications in space astronomy. Our most commonly used readout configuration for microchannel plate sensors is the cross delay line anode. We have achieved resolutions of < 25 µm in tests over 65 mm x 65 mm (>2.5k x 2.5k resolution elements) with excellent linearity for random photon rates of > 1 MHz, while time tagging events using the MCP output signal to better than 100 ps. Sealed tube (U and visible) microchannel plate cross delay line detectors of this kind have been built and used for observation of flare stars, orbital satellites and space debris using the GALEX satellite. We have also obtained time resolved imaging of the Crab Pulsar with a 1m ground based telescope. To achieve better efficiency, higher counting rate and extended lifetime we are now developing cross strip anode readouts. These have already demonstrated 5μm resolution at <10 x lower gain than the cross delay line readout schemes. High speed electronics for the cross strip are currently under development.