Photomultiplier apparatus having a multi-layer unitary ceramic housing
First Claim
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1. A photomultiplier tube comprising:
- a photocathode receiving photons and responsively releasing electrons, a microchannel plate disposed to receive said electrons and providing a proportionate electron shower, and an anode disposed to receive said electron shower and to produce a signal current therefrom, said photomultiplier tube including a unitary multi-layer base member substantially formed of ceramic material, said base member defining a recess and a peripheral rim portion circumscribing said recess, said recess partially bounding an evacuated chamber;
said evacuated chamber receiving said photocathode, said microchannel plate, and said anode; and
window means cooperating with said base member at said peripheral rim portion to completing the bounding of said evacuated chamber.
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Abstract
A photomultiplier includes a cascade of microchannel plates which are physically and electrically connected to provide an electron multiplication through the microchannel cascade. One of the microchannel plates is a high-output microchannel plate providing a high level of electron multiplication. This high output microchannel plate is thermally conducted to ambient by a heat transfer path including outwardly disposed microchannel plates in the cascade. A unitary ceramic housing defines a vacuum envelope for the photomultiplier.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A photomultiplier tube comprising:
- a photocathode receiving photons and responsively releasing electrons, a microchannel plate disposed to receive said electrons and providing a proportionate electron shower, and an anode disposed to receive said electron shower and to produce a signal current therefrom, said photomultiplier tube including a unitary multi-layer base member substantially formed of ceramic material, said base member defining a recess and a peripheral rim portion circumscribing said recess, said recess partially bounding an evacuated chamber;
said evacuated chamber receiving said photocathode, said microchannel plate, and said anode; and
window means cooperating with said base member at said peripheral rim portion to completing the bounding of said evacuated chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- a photocathode receiving photons and responsively releasing electrons, a microchannel plate disposed to receive said electrons and providing a proportionate electron shower, and an anode disposed to receive said electron shower and to produce a signal current therefrom, said photomultiplier tube including a unitary multi-layer base member substantially formed of ceramic material, said base member defining a recess and a peripheral rim portion circumscribing said recess, said recess partially bounding an evacuated chamber;
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10. A photomultiplier tube comprising:
- a photocathode receiving photons and releasing electrons in response, a microchannel plate disposed to receive said electrons and providing a proportionate electron shower, and an anode disposed to receive said electron shower and to produce a signal current therefrom, said photomultiplier tube including a unitary multi-layer base member substantially formed of ceramic material, said base member bounding an evacuated chamber receiving said photocathode, said microchannel plate, and said anode;
wherein said base member further includes electrical connection features embedded in said ceramic material of said base member;
wherein said base member includes depending connector pins electrically connecting with said embedded connection features; and
wherein said base member defines a recess, and plural peripheral step portions circumferentially extending about said recess. - View Dependent Claims (11)
- a photocathode receiving photons and releasing electrons in response, a microchannel plate disposed to receive said electrons and providing a proportionate electron shower, and an anode disposed to receive said electron shower and to produce a signal current therefrom, said photomultiplier tube including a unitary multi-layer base member substantially formed of ceramic material, said base member bounding an evacuated chamber receiving said photocathode, said microchannel plate, and said anode;
Specification