COMPARISON OF FIRST AND SECOND - GENERATION IMAGE INTENSIFIERS.

The conventional first generation cascaded light image intensifiers are limited in application by their size, mass, distortion and highlight handling. High gain, small size, single-stage tubes incorporating channel plates are now in regular production. The limited detection efficiency of channel plate however, leads to an increase in the measurable and visible noise. Three types of second generation devices are discussed: inverter electron-optic image intensifiers, incorporating a thin aluminum-filmed channel plate; proximity focused intensifiers that are small and have favorable noise power factors, and a new inverter intensifier with a magnifying electrostatic lens. This improves modulation transfer factors to values previously unattainable. Further improvements to second-generation image intensifiare discussed.