RF strip-line anodes for Psec large-area MCP-based photodetectors

We have designed and tested economical large-area RF strip-line anodes made by silk-screening silver onto inexpensive plate glass, for use in microchannel plate photodetectors to provide measurements of time, position, integrated charge, and pulse waveform shapes. The 229-mm-long anodes are modular, and can be attached in series for economy in electronics channel-count. Measurements of the anode impedance, bandwidth and cross-talk due to inter-strip coupling are presented. The analog bandwidth, a key determinant of timing resolution, decreases from 1.6 GHz to 0.4 GHz as the anode length increases from 289 mm to 916 mm.