Abstract: A solid-state streak camera having photodetectors configured to receive energy from an event and convert the energy to an electrical signal. The electrical signal is presented on a conductive path that has two or more capacitors spaced along the conductive path, the capacitors configure to accept and hold capacitor charge. The capacitor charge represents the energy from the event received by the photodetectors and the location of the capacitors along the conductive path correlates to time of the receipt of the energy on the photodetector. Analog to digital converters convert the capacitor charge to digital values and a memory stores the digital values as data associated with the photodetector that generated the data. Reliable and constant results or obtained and high resolution may be obtained with a two-dimensional photodetector array.

Abstract: A photocathode designs that leverage the grazing incidence geometry yield improvements through the introduction of recessed structures, such as cones, pyramids, pillars or cavities to the photocathode substrate surface. Improvements in yield of up to 20 times have been shown to occur in grazing incidence geometry disclosed herein due to a larger path length of the X-ray photons which better matches the secondary electron escape depth within the photocathode material. A photocathode includes a substrate having a first side and a second side, the first side configured to receive x-ray energy and the second side opposing the first side. A structured surface is associated with the second side of the substrate such that the structured surface includes a plurality of recesses from the second side of the substrate into the substrate.

Abstract: A photocathode designs that leverage the grazing incidence geometry yield improvements through the introduction of recessed structures, such as cones, pyramids, pillars or cavities to the photocathode substrate surface. Improvements in yield of up to 20 times have been shown to occur in grazing incidence geometry disclosed herein due to a larger path length of the X-ray photons which better matches the secondary electron escape depth within the photocathode material. A photocathode includes a substrate having a first side and a second side, the first side configured to receive x-ray energy and the second side opposing the first side. A structured surface is associated with the second side of the substrate such that the structured surface includes a plurality of recesses from the second side of the substrate into the substrate.