SBIR-STTR Award

Microchannel plate innovations are described which will assist in the development of advanced wind tunnel instrumentation. (l) The mass spectrometric measurement of boundary layer gasses; (2) Temperature measurement of gasses; (3) High sensitivity thermal imaging of transients; (4) Optical spectroscopy and photography for flow visualization in high enthalpy test facilities. Innovations which must be developed to make such instruments practical include developing techniques to reduce the frequency of spurious electron pulse emission from microchannel plates which constitute background noise and secondly to accelerate the channel recovery process, thereby raising the permissible maximum signal frequency. It is shown that together these techniques can lead to a factor of l000 growth in dynamic range. It is also suggested that the effort Galileo is already devoting to new high-silica aterials for microchannel plates and optical fibers will further enhance the usefulness of these instruments by permitting higher temperature operation.STATUS: Project Proceded to Phase II

___(NOTE: Note: no official Abstract exists of this Phase II projects. Abstract is modified by idi from relevant Phase I data. The specific Phase II work statement and objectives may differ)___ Microchannel plate innovations are described which will assist in the development of advanced wind tunnel instrumentation. (l) The mass spectrometric measurement of boundary layer gasses; (2) Temperature measurement of gasses; (3) High sensitivity thermal imaging of transients; (4) Optical spectroscopy and photography for flow visualization in high enthalpy test facilities. Innovations which must be developed to make such instruments practical include developing techniques to reduce the frequency of spurious electron pulse emission from microchannel plates which constitute background noise and secondly to accelerate the channel recovery process, thereby raising the permissible maximum signal frequency. It is shown that together these techniques can lead to a factor of l000 growth in dynamic range. It is also suggested that the effort Galileo is already devoting to new high-silica aterials for microchannel plates and optical fibers will further enhance the usefulness of these instruments by permitting higher temperature operation.STATUS: Project Proceded to Phase II