microchannel plate | has definition A compact electrostatic high-voltage electron multiplier with a very large number of narrow pores or channels. A photoelectron generated at the entrance face (photocathode) stimulates a cascade of secondary electrons down the nearest channel to produce a huge cloud of charge at the output face. The output pulse can be used in many different ways to record the event. If it impacts a phosphor screen then light emission can be detected with a CCD. Direct electrical detection can be obtained using a Multi Anode Microchannel Analyzer. | ![has source: McLean, I.S. 1997 Electronic Imaging in Astronomy, Wiley, 2001-09-27 09:27:35.0 has source: McLean, I.S. 1997 Electronic Imaging in Astronomy, Wiley, 2001-09-27 09:27:35.0](facet.gif) |