Abstract
IMPACTRON is the novel solid state image intensifier based on Impact Ionization to multiply photo-generated charge directly before its conversion into voltage. This charge carrier multiplication provides a gain in charge domain, thus avoiding the limiting effects of the amplifier noise floor. IMPACTRON realizes the low light level sensing in real time, with enough S/N ratio, without reducing the readout speed. This paper describes a brief of the concept, the outline of the typical sensor design "TC253SPD" with some important detail related to the measurement and the analysis of the noise component. The performance of IMPACTRON is also compared in terms of the visibility of the night scene.
