Microchannel plate and method of making the microchannel plate with an electron backscatter layer to amplify first strike electrons

A microchannel plate comprising:

• a channel having a central axis extending at a channel bias angle;
• and
• a first portion of the channel near the input face comprising:
• a circumferentially extending glass sidewall surface;
• a contact metal layer coupled to a bias voltage, wherein the contact metal layer is configured adjacent to and radially inward from the glass sidewall surface;
• and
• an electron backscatter layer configured adjacent to and radially inward from the contact metal layer, wherein the electron backscatter layer is configured to receive primary electrons emitted from a photocathode and backscatter the primary electrons from a surface of the electron backscatter layer.

A method of making a microchannel plate, comprising:

• forming glass cores surrounded by respective glass cladding at a first angle relative to opposing input and output faces of a plate;
• etching the glass cores to remove the cores entirely from the remaining glass cladding leaving a plurality of spaced channels;
• forming a contact metal layer on both opposing input and output faces of the plate and partially into each of the spaced channels;
• and
• forming an electron backscatter layer on the contact metal on the input face and contiguously only partially into each of the spaced channel near only the input face.