The Novel ABALONE Photosensor Technology: 4-Year Long Tests of Vacuum Integrity, Internal Pumping and Afterpulsing

Abstract

The ABALONE Photosensor Technology (U.S. Patent 9064678 2015) has the capability of supplanting the expensive 80 year old Photomultiplier Tube (PMT) manufacture by providing a modern and cost effective alternative product. An ABALONE Photosensor comprises only three monolithic glass components, sealed together by our new thin film adhesive. In 2013, we left one of the early ABALONE Photosensor prototypes intact for continuous stress testing, and here we report its long term vacuum integrity. The exceptionally low ion afterpulsing rate (approximately two orders of magnitude lower than in PMTs) has been constantly improving. We explain the physical and technological reasons for this achievement. Due to the cost-effectiveness and the specific combination of features, including low level of radioactivity, integration into large-area panels, and robustness, this technology can open new horizons in the fields of fundamental physics, functional medical imaging, and nuclear security.