Pulse Height Distribution

Single MCP intensifiers have an exponential pulse height distribution. For photon counting image intensifiers, pulse height distribution is measured during processing to optimise channel plate out gassing.The diagram below shows how the number of MCPs affect the pulse height distribution. Both the peak/valley ratio, and the FWHM of the pulse height distribution are used as indications of the quality of photon counting tubes. It can be seen that both of these parameters improve, as the number of MCPs is increased.