PHOTOMULTIPLIER SINGLE-ELECTRON STATISTICS

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1962 · IRE Trans. on Nuclear Sci. NS-9

OSTI ID:4806183

Tusting, R F; Kerns, Q A; Knudsen, H K

Measurements of the amplitude distribution of photomultiplier anode pulses due to the emission of single electrons from the cathode consistently show a peak. It is significant that the peak position agrees with that of a calculated distribution based on a Poisson distribution of secondary electrons at each dynode. The integral distribution, obtained by counting single-electron pulses, tends to show a plateau. In low-light-level counting applications, one can set the discriminator so that a majority of photomultiplier single-electron pulses will be counted. Further increase in the sensitivity will eventually increase the noise rate faster than the counting efficiency. The techniques for measuring photomultiplier single-electron statistics are useful for obtaining comparative collection efficiencies. By single-electron measurements, one can adjust focusingelectrode potentials to maximize over-all collection efficiency. It is believed that there is some correlation between the amplitude and time distributions. Further work is necessary to show the extent of the correlation. (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Berkeley
• NSA Number: NSA-16-023893
• OSTI ID: 4806183
• Report Number(s): UCRL-9980
• Journal Information: IRE Trans. on Nuclear Sci. NS-9, Journal Name: IRE Trans. on Nuclear Sci. NS-9 Vol. Vol: No. 3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANODES
CATHODES
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRODES
ELECTRONS
ENGINEERING AND EQUIPMENT
MEASURED VALUES
PHOTOMULTIPLIERS
PULSES
SENSITIVITY
STATISTICS