PHOTOMULTIPLIER SINGLE-ELECTRON STATISTICS
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
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