Compact sub-10 ps Resolution Radio Frequency Photomultiplier Tube

Abstract

Experimental measurements of the radial spreading of photoelectrons emitted from a multi-alkali photocathode in a MCP-based photomultiplier tube have shown that, for photon wavelengths of 455 nm, 515 nm and 625 nm, the maximum initial energies of the emitted photoelectrons are approximately 0.3 eV, 0.2 eV and 0.1 eV respectively. Combining these experimental results with simulations performed using the SIMION simulation package, a compact radio-frequency photoelectron multiplier tube with a temporal resolution better than 10 ps is proposed. The device would be suitable for applications in several fields, particularly in medical optical instruments employing time-correlated single-photon counting.