Intensify Your High-Speed Imaging.

The LaVision HighSpeed IRO X is an intensified relay optic system equipped with an extremely fast gated, high-precision shutter control. It improves the performance of high-speed and ultra high-speed camera systems and is the perfect solution when recording light emission in chemiluminescence research and when extremely fast gating times are needed.

The HS IRO X is a lens-coupled system that mounts to the front of high-speed and ultra high-speed cameras. It has an optimized image intensifier system with fast P46 phosphors for high frame rate (HFR) recording without ghosting into subsequent frames.

LaVision HighSpeed IRO X Image Intensifier is configured as a two-stage MCP (microchannel plate) with Booster system. The two-stage intensifier system configuration yields approximately 10 times higher signal output compared to a single-stage system. For highest frame rates a two-stage system is required to get adequate dynamic behavior. The maximum achievable frame rate also depends on the parameters of the high-speed or ultra high-speed camera.

The HS IRO X lens system is a 1:1 optics coupling optimized for highest collection efficiency, resolution and minimized shading (center to rim) for 25 mm diameter objects. The 1:1 coupling optimally matches large CMOS high-speed and ultra high-speed camera sensors – illuminating the entire sensor with the intensified image.

The IRO Controller ensures optimized synchronization to the camera offering various timing modes and automatic enabling/disabling synchronous to the camera recording. Controlling is done via local keypad or remote with the IRO App or with the LaVision DaVis app via USB interface. The controller offers three timing modes: Internal, Direct and Burst Sequence.

The LaVision HighSpeed IRO X system includes a mounting kit consisting of a 500 mm optical rail, three clamps, posts and holders. The optional HighSpeed IRO Focusing Base Mount allows easy focusing of the HS IRO X to the camera sensor.

Stage Two – Booster
The booster consists of a second photocathode and phosphor screen, charged with high voltage to convert and amplify photoelectrons for increased resolution for high-speed & ultra high-speed imaging.

Fiber optic connectors efficiently transfer amplified light to the booster and to the coupled lenses, which are used to optimize exposure, match the size of the camera’s sensor and to maximize spatial resolution of the intensified image capture.

The MCP (microchannel plate)

Microchannel plates (MCP) are specially fabricated glass plates containing millions of channels used to amplify electron signals, similar to a secondary electron multiplier (SEM). Unlike an SEM, the MCP contains millions of channels – each working as an independent electron multiplier – the MCP is an assembly of millions of miniature SEMs.

Microchannel Plates have a combination of unique properties like high gain, high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution. They can be used in a large variety of applications including imaging spectroscopy, electron spectroscopy and microscopy, mass spectrometry, astronomy, molecular and atomic collision studies, cluster physics, and others. Most of these applications require only some of the MCP’s properties, for example, Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry require high temporal resolution of MCPs and imaging of single atoms in field ion microscopes or X-ray imaging of the Sun require mainly spatial resolution. Particle analyzers may be produced by using an MCP detector at the output of a electrostatic and/or magnetic dispersion system. Very high sensitivity optical UV and EUV and X-ray spectrometers can also be produced with appropriate filtering and dispersive elements. The same microchannel plate technology is used to make visible light image intensifiers for night vision goggles and binoculars.

Inside the MCP

The MCP consists of a periodic array of millions of extremely small diameter glass capillaries (channels) fused together and sliced into a thin plate. A single incident particle (photoelectron) enters a channel and emits an electron from the channel wall. Secondary electrons are accelerated by an electric field developed by variable high voltage applied across both ends of the MCP. Photoelectrons travel along their parabolic trajectories until they strike the channel surface and produce additional secondary electrons. This process is repeated multiple times along the channels, yielding a cloud of several thousand electrons, which emerge from the rear of the plate.

The individual channels of the MCP confine the pulse and the spatial pattern at the rear of the MCP preserves and intensifies the image pattern on the front surface of the MCP.

The output signals of the MCP pass through a phosphor screen for photon conversion and then through a fiber optic connector for additional intensification in the booster.

Linearity at Full Signal Level

The dynamic behavior of photocathode sensitivity is determined by the maximum amount of recharge current and optimized component configuration. Depletion is an effect when the selected gain factor cannot be maintained in a stable operation and when the recharge current cannot deliver the required number of electrons for that gain. At smaller signal levels (fewer counts) this will show up at higher repetition rates.

The LaVision HighSpeed IRO X Image Intensifier maintains linearity at full signal level (1,024 counts for 10-bit cameras) up to extremely high repetition rates. The maximum signal current depends on pixel size and sensitivity of the camera sensor.