University of Sussex
Browse

File(s) not publicly available

Realisation of 50% quantum efficiency from photomultiplier cathodes

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 20:11 authored by S Harmer, S Hallensleben, P D Townsend
Standard trialkali red sensitive photomultiplier (PM) tubes have cathode quantum efficiencies which typically fall from ~25% at 400 nm to ~1% at 800 nm, partly because the material has lower optical absorption coefficients at long wavelengths. Increasing cathode thickness benefits long wavelength response but overall reduces electron extraction efficiency. In the present work modelling of the interaction of light within the dielectric materials of the windows indicates that considerably greater quantum efficiency (QE) is feasible under a variety of conditions. Some of these possibilities have been explored with standard PM tubes giving data where the blue response is increased by a factor of 2, to ~50%. Much higher improvement factors, of more than 10 times, are realised at longer wavelengths. Current work suggests that the enhancement methods can be exploited further, and at least 50% performance obtained across most of the range of spectral response. A secondary feature of the enhancement is that the useful operating range of the tube is extended further into the near infrared.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms

ISSN

0168-583X

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

166-7

Page range

798-803

ISBN

0168-583X

Department affiliated with

  • Engineering and Design Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC