Gated x-ray imager gain correction using a tapered microchannel-plate stripline

Gated imagers used to record x-ray emission in the 1--5 keV range in laser-plasma interaction experiments have suffered from resistive gain degradation between voltage drive pulse input and output ends of a microchannel-plate stripline. The reduction in gain as the pulse travels down the strip results in a lower signal-to-background ratio in the last image on a strip than in the first image. Compensation for this gain nonuniformity using a tapered stripline in place of the normally straight striplines is discussed