A number of photomultiplier tubes have been assessed for application in experiments where the counting of individual photoelectrons from the photocathode is necessary or advantageous. Pulse height distributions, signal-to-noise-in-signal ratios, over-all quantum-counting efficiencies, time dependent statistical correlations, and dark current properties have been investigated and compared with theoretical expectations. A major finding has been the general low value of over-all quantum-counting efficiency. Direct measurements of this figure have not, to our knowledge, been published previously. A second conclusion has been that, although there seems to be no reason why high performance with respect to each of the features considered should not be achieved in a single tube, we have not yet found one in which this is so.
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article tables are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Equations are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Rodman and Smith.33
This tube may be purchased with cathode areas down to 10−5 cm2 with consequently lower dark count rates (∼1/sec at room temperature).
Table VI
Photon-Counting Statistics of the Dark Current for a 56 TVP and an FW 130 Compared with Poisson Statistics
Normalized factorial moment
Room temperature 105 samples
Cooled 103 samples
Cooled 104 samples
FW130
56TVP
Theory
FW130
Theory
56TVP
Theory
n(1)
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
n(2)
1.000
1.009
1.000 ± 0.009
1.01
1.00 ± 0.09
1.73
1.00 ± 0.03
n(3)
0.999
1.034
1.000 ± 0.017
1.02
1.00 ± 0.17
6.85
1.00 ± 0.05
n(4)
0.991
1.088
1.000 ± 0.030
0.97
1.00 ± 0.30
9.94
1.0 ± 0.1
n(5)
0.97
1.205
1.000 ± 0.12
—
—
—
—
Tables (6)
Table I
The Effect of the Pulse Height Distribution on the Signal-to-Noise-in-Signal Ratio Attained in Analog Measurements
Photomultiplier
μ
var(g) observed
b
FPoisson
Fobserved
var(g)Poisson
F0
F0
9558
3.5
2.1
0.3
0.78
0.63
9658
3.2
1.9
0.3
0.76
0.63
D22498
3.3
1.3
0.09
0.77
0.71
56 TVP
5
1.2
0.04
0.83
0.81
FW 130
5
1.0
0
0.83
0.83
Table II
Summary of Photomultiplier Data Relating to Quantum Efficiency
Rodman and Smith.33
This tube may be purchased with cathode areas down to 10−5 cm2 with consequently lower dark count rates (∼1/sec at room temperature).
Table VI
Photon-Counting Statistics of the Dark Current for a 56 TVP and an FW 130 Compared with Poisson Statistics