Patent ID: 6066020
Filing Date: 2000-05-23
Classification: C03B,H01J

Abstract:
A method for fabricating microchannel plates (MCPs) having submicron to micron diameter channels, comprising the steps of:feeding a clad glass tube through a furnace at a given feed rate said furnace providing sufficient heat to cause glass flow,drawing said glass tube from a furnace at a first drawing rate to produce a smaller diameter fiber having a center according to a first reduction ratio indicative said first drawing rate and said given feed rate,stacking said fibers in a predetermined geometric shape, such that the centers of abutting fibers on a boundary of the geometric shape are substantially aligned,feeding said stacked fiber shape through a furnace at a second given feed rate,drawing said stacked fiber shape from a furnace at a second drawing rate to produce a plurality of smaller diameter shaped fibers at a second reduction ratio,stacking said shaped fibers in a hexagonal format to provide a hexagonal preform such that the centers of abutting fibers on a boundary of the hexagonal preform are substantially aligned and feeding said hexagonal preform through a furnace at a third given feed rate,drawing said hexagonal preform from a furnace at a third drawing rate to produce a plurality of hexagonal shaped fibers, at a third reduction ratio,forming said hexagonal fibers into a glass boule,slicing said boule to form individual microchannel plate slices having submicron to micron channel apertures according to the total combined reduction ratios.