A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE GAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF IMAGE INTENSIFIERS

We report measurements of dynamic range, gain profile and absolute gai n of three second-generation image intensifiers under pulsed illuminat ion. One electrostatically focused (Mullard 1330) and two proximity fo cused (Varo 9732 and Photek microchannel plate 140) image intensifiers have been characterized. The dynamic ranges were found to be 240, 560 , and 400 for the Mullard, Varo, and Photek tubes, respectively, for a ll gain settings. At a microchannel plate bias voltage of 900 V the ra diant gain for these tubes is 4 x 10(3), 3 x 10(4), and 2 x 10(3), res pectively. The sensitivity and dynamic range of the charge-coupled dev ice camera recording system were found to be superior to that of conve ntional highspeed film (Kodak TMAX).