Photocopia-A Unibody Mono-material Compact and Scalable Photomultiplier

Mulhollan, Gregory¹ 

[1] Saxet Surface Science

关键词: photomultiplier;    PMT;    detector;    scintillator;    amorphous silicon;    photocathode;    unibody;    nuclear physics;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1164629
RP-ID  :  DOE-SAXET-0011254
PID  :  OSTI ID: 1164629

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

The Photocopia photomultiplier tube (PMT) takes advantage of two of the many unique properties of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon-germanium (a-SiGe) photoemitter material: its mechanical flexibility and mostly substrate-independent properties. The a-SiGe photoemitter has high secondary electron (SE) yield. It can be used both as the photocathode and as the gain medium. The active material can be grown on a flat, thin unibody substrate, formed and then ???rolled up??? ex situ. The completed structure would then be activated and sealed within a tube. The Ge component can be increased to enhance red-sensitivity. Compact sizes are possible, minimizing magnetic field effects. The Photocopia PMT will be a low cost alternative to MCPs for TOF detectors and provide better timing discrimination for Cherenkov detectors. Retention of the ability to activate to a normal photoyield state upon flexing (bending) the substrate of the a-SiGe material after growth, but prior to activation has been shown. The SE coefficient of the activated material has been characterized over the voltage range suitable for utilization as the gain material. The time response of the material is suited to PMT use.