Development of an Alkali Transfer Photocathode for Large Area Microchannel Plate-Based Photodetectors

The goal of the Large Area Picosecond Photodetector collaboration is to produce 8-inch by 8-inch microchannel plate-based photodetectors, with fast timing resolution of the order of 1-100 ps and high spatial resolution of 0.1-10 mm. At Argonne, the transfer photocathode process being developed is based on a recipe for manufacturing photomultiplier cathodes. Starting with a commercial PMT fabrication facility, the photocathode recipe and growth system will be scaled up using a custom-built glass vessel to produce transfer photocathodes. This leads to the production of the 8-inch by 8-inch photocathode that will be incorporated with the photodetector assembly system.