Dilation x-ray framing camera and its temporal resolution uniformity.

An x-ray framing camera based on pulse-dilation technology is reported. This camera first dilates the electron signal generated from a pulsed photo-cathode (PC), and then detects the dilated electron pulse by using a gated microchannel plate (MCP). While the PC is only applied with a direct current (DC) voltage, the camera's temporal resolution without pulse-dilation is about 81 ps. It is the gated MCP's temporal resolution. While an excitation pulse is applied on the PC, the electron pulse's temporal width is dilated, and the resolution is improved to 14 ps. Furthermore, the camera's temporal resolution uniformity is measured and simulated. The results show a 3.5 × drop in temporal resolution along the pulse propagation direction, due to the 5 × decrease of the PC excitation pulse gradient.