Optimization efforts in gated x-ray intensifiers

Gated x-ray intensifiers are often primary imaging diagnostics in high-energy-density-physics and inertial confinement fusion experiments. Improvements in resolution and background suppression can be achieved by electron focusing and improved phosphor screens. Efforts have been directed at improving luminosity, resolution, and decreased background from aluminized thin (<0.7mg/cm2) phosphor layers. Thin phosphors, coupled with thin aluminum overcoats, give equivalent or higher luminosities than traditional thick (0.7mg/cm2) settled or sprayed coatings. Higher resolution is achieved by coupling increased extraction voltage with less inter-particle diffusion of fluorescent and phosphorescent photons. The aluminum overcoat serves to capture a higher percentage of the 2π photons directed away from the fiber optic collector. We describe recent work in optimization of the phosphor screens used in these intensifiers.