The photomultiplier handbook

Description

Photomultipliers are extremely sensitive light detectors that can detect single photons. In multiplying the charge produced by incident light by up to 100 million times, these devices are essential to a wide range of functions, from medical instrumentation to astronomical observations. This complete and authoritative guide will provide students, practitioners, and researchers with a deeper understanding of the operating principles of these devices. Authored by an experienced user and manufacturer of photomultipliers, this handbook gives the reader insights into photomultiplier behaviour as a means to optimize performance. Diffuse and low level light sources are best served with a photomultiplier for the detection of single photon emissions. Light detection and electron multiplication are statistical in nature and the mathematics of these processes is derived from first principles. The book covers other related topics such as scintillation counting, light guides, and large area detectors. The usually complicated subject of biasing a photomultiplier, very important for optimal performance, is reduced to a comprehensible set of calculations. All applications demand some form of electronics, the options for which are fully explored in this book. Content: Cover The Photomultiplier Handbook Copyright Dedication Contents Preface Figure credits Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 10 Chapter 14 1: Why photomultipliers? 1.1 Aspects of light detection 1.1.1 Introduction 1.1.2 Brief history of PMTs 1.1.3 The statistical case for PMTs 1.1.4 DC detection with a PMT 1.1.5 Detection of single photoelectrons 1.1.6 Detection of multi-photoelectron signals 1.1.7 Summary of PMT key attributes 1.2 Other light detectors 1.2.1 Silicon PIN diodes 1.2.2 APDs 1.2.3 SiPMs 1.2.4 Summary of silicon key attributes 1.2.5 Visible-light photon counters1.2.6 CCDs 1.2.7 Hybrid photodetectors and APDs 1.3 Pulse height resolution 1.4 Position resolution 1.5 Signal-to-background considerations References 2: Photocathodes 2.1 Introduction 2.1.1 Solid angles 2.2 Fundamentals of photosensitivity 2.2.1 The electromagnetic spectrum 2.2.2 Photoelectric phenomena 2.2.3 Photoelectron energy distribution 2.3 Spectral radiation and photometric units 2.3.1 Spectral radiant energy 2.3.2 Photometric units and standards 2.3.3 Filter measurements 2.3.4 Calibration laboratories and absolute radiation standards2.3.5 Trap detectors 2.4 Optical properties of end window photocathodes 2.4.1 Refraction in dielectrics 2.4.2 Reflection from dielectrics 2.4.3 Photocathode optical properties 2.4.4 Techniques for measuring photocathode reflectance 2.4.5 Limits to reliable measurement 2.4.6 Determination of transmission and absorptance 2.5 Spectral sensitivity of photocathodes 2.5.1 Three foremost photocathodes 2.5.2 Photocathode response to scintillator light 2.5.3 Solar blind photocathodes 2.5.4 Infrared photocathodes 2.5.5 High-temperature photocathodes2.6 Photocathode geometries 2.6.1 Range of end window PMTs 2.6.2 Range of side window PMTs 2.6.3 Window materials 2.7 Photocathode resistivity 2.8 QE temperature dependence 2.8.1 Laboratory and commercial applications, -30 C to +60 C 2.8.2 Ultra-low temperature performance, -273 C to -30 C 2.8.3 High-temperature operation, +60 C to +200 C 2.9 Dark count temperature sensitivity 2.10 Critical photocathode properties 2.10.1 Photocathode uniformity 2.10.2 Ionizing radiation 2.11 Summary of factors affecting photocathode response References