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Re: (meteorobs) 2nd vs 3rd Generation Intensifiers
From the IMO webpage...
Most important for the power of the whole video system is the image
intensifier. Generally it should have a gain >10000, an flourescent screen
diameter >20 mm and as little noise as possible. There are different
generations of intensifiers available.
First generation intensifiers often do not have the needed power unless they
contain three stages of amplification. They produce more noise, but are
cheaper than intensifiers of later generations. Unfortunately, most of the
intensifiers used in army night vision systems are single stage intensifier
and therefore unsuitable.
Second generation intensifiers (micro channel plates - MCPs) do often have a
high gain combined with a small distortion of the field of view and only
little noise. They show best characteristics for meteor observation.
Third generation intensifer use different photosensitive material at the
cathode with maximum sensitivity in the infrared. Thus, they are of less
importance for meteor observers.
The type of observation you intend to carry out determines the lens you
should use. Most important for good system performance is the f-number of the
objective. The lens should be as fast as possible. The longer the focal
length of the lens, the smaller is the field of view and the fainter is
average meteor recorded from the system.
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