Silicon Target Return Beam Vidicon.

This program was concerned with development of an electrical inputoutput Si storage RBV of high resolution. Targets of 7,000 linesheight covering the full two-inch format were successfully fabricated and sealed off in complete RBV configurations. Detailed measurements were made using a variety of operating modes for 2 and 10 sec. write times. Performance demonstrated included 6,000 TVLPH limiting resolution, linear WriteRead signal transfer characteristics, dynamic range in excess of ten square root of 2 gray steps, SN ratio in the 30-50 range, and very good overall image quality. Written information was stored with little or no degradation for several days, and non-destructive readout in excess of two hours was obtained. A narrow-angle gun was designed and fabricated to obtain high duty-cycle, rapid cycle-rate operation. A factor of six improvement in prime capability down to 0.15 sec has been shown for the large Si storage target. Evaluation of the gun in ASOS RBVs included demonstration of full target prepare capability in a fraction of a second. Although the new gun does not contain a limiting exit aperture, read resolution performance is at least as good as obtained in standard guns with 1-Mil aperture. It is now feasible to design high-speed reconnaissance systems with desirable overlapping coverage and enhanced operator display. Author