US3872337A - Electron multiplier formed by twisting fingers in parallel plates - Google Patents

Electron multiplier formed by twisting fingers in parallel plates Download PDF

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Publication number
US3872337A
US3872337A US444370A US44437074A US3872337A US 3872337 A US3872337 A US 3872337A US 444370 A US444370 A US 444370A US 44437074 A US44437074 A US 44437074A US 3872337 A US3872337 A US 3872337A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
fingers
multiplying
electron
twisted
electrons
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US444370A
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English (en)
Inventor
Gordon Peter Davis
John Wardley
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QED Intellectual Property Ltd
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EMI Ltd
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Publication date
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Assigned to ZENITH ELECTRONICS CORPORATION, A CORP OF DELAWARE reassignment ZENITH ELECTRONICS CORPORATION, A CORP OF DELAWARE LICENSE (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: OAK INDUSTRIES, INC.,
Assigned to THORN EMI PATENTS LIMITED reassignment THORN EMI PATENTS LIMITED ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: EMI LIMITED
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J43/00—Secondary-emission tubes; Electron-multiplier tubes
    • H01J43/04—Electron multipliers
    • H01J43/06—Electrode arrangements
    • H01J43/18—Electrode arrangements using essentially more than one dynode
    • H01J43/20—Dynodes consisting of sheet material, e.g. plane, bent

Definitions

  • a multichannel electron multiplier has a plurality of Guns 0th of England multiplying stages. Each stage is formed from a flat [73] ssigneel EMI Limited, Middlesex, England plate of secondary electron emissive material slit into a plurality of fingers. Alternate fingers are twisted out [22] Filed 1974 of the plane of the plate at right angles thereto. The [21] Appl.
  • No.1 444,370 twisted fingers in successive stages are staggered to provide a plurality of zigzag electron multiplying chan nels.
  • the faceplate of a tube is a [5 Clfibre optics plate and is directed nto fibre l l Field of Search 104, 313/103 optics light guides to positions corresponding to the multiplying channels.
  • a focusing electrode is disposed References Clted between the photocathode and the first multiplying UNITED STATES PATENTS stage and serves to focus electrons onto the twisted 2,236,041 3/1941 Teal 313/105 fingers- The "On-twisted fingers also p to focus 3 443 547 1943 weimer 313 105 X electrons onto the twisted fingers in successive multi- 3,119,037 1/1964 Stanley 313/95 X plying stages along the multiplying channels.
  • Electron multipliers incorporating continuous dynodes exhibit various disadvantages in dependence upon their design. Such tubes may exhibit, for example, non-linearity, long transit time, transit time spread, low output or low efficiency.
  • an electron multiplier having a plurality of electron multiplying stages comprising a plurality of parallel plates slit to form parallel fingers of which alternate fingers are twisted out of the plane of the plates perpendicular thereto, the twisted fingers in successive plates being staggered to form separate zigzag electron multiplying channels.
  • FIG. I represents a longitudinal, sectional view of a photomultiplier tube in accordance with one example of the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows, on an enlarged scale, part of one of the transverse plate members
  • FIG. 3 represents a longitudinal sectional view of part of a second example of an electron multiplier in accordance with the invention.
  • the tube comprises a tubular envelope 1 provided in known manner with a photocathode 2. on a substantially transparent electrode 3 at one end thereof.
  • the photocathode 2 emits electrons in response to light falling thereon and so constitutes a source of electrons.
  • a respective electron collecting electrode (such as 4) is provided to collect the electrons emerging from each of the four channels.
  • the channels and the stages of gain are constituted by means of six similar members such as 5 disposed transversely to the axis of the tube and spaced apart along said axis.
  • the members such as 5 are formed from plates of electrically conductive, secondary electron emissive material, and all the members are mutually electrically insulated.
  • a member 5 is shown on an enlarged scale in FIG. 2, and it can be seen i that said member is formed in a one-piece construction, from a sheet of suitable material such as beryllium copper or silver-magnesium alloys. The sheet is slit parallel to one of its edges to define a plurality of finger portions 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 which are interconnected by a common lower web 11. A common upper web (not shown) interconnects the upper ends of the finger portions. Alternate ones of the finger portions, 7 and 9 in this example, are twisted as shown so as to be orientated at right angles to the other finger portions. Thus when the member 5 is in position in the envelope 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the twisted portions such as 7 and 9 lie substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the envelope and they are arranged to constitute the first multiplication stages of each of the four channels.
  • the other transverse members are similarly formed, but when positioned in the envelope 1, alternate members are staggered as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the lower web 11 is formed with holes as indicated at 12, I3 and 14 in FIG. 2, through which longitudinal extensive, electrically insulating support/spacer pillars (not shown) can be inserted.
  • the pillars are inserted through the holes in the webs of all six transverse members and are suitably secured to the envelope at either end so as to provide location and support for said members.
  • the upper web (not shown) is also formed with holes through which similar pillars can be inserted. I
  • the electron focussing is so arranged that electrons strike all secondary emissive surfaces at large angles of incidence, thus ensuring optimum gain. Moreover, the focussing electrodes are designed so that light and ion feedback to the cathode is negligible.
  • each of the transverse members such as 5 includes five finger portions.
  • the six members can conveniently be formed from a single sheet of suitable material which is first slit 'as described earlier to provide thirty similar finger portions supported between upper and lower webs.
  • the slit sheet is then processed so, that alternate finger portions are twisted at right angles to the plane of thesheet and so that holes are formed in the upper and lower webs opposite the first, fifth, sixth, tenth, eleventh etc., finger portions to provide for the insertion of supporting and locating pillars.
  • the sheet after such treatment, is then cut through the upper and lower webs at the outside edge of every fifth finger portion so that banks of five finger portions are cut off. Consecutive banks of five then have, automatically, the correct form with respect to one another, to constitute adjacent transverse members of the photomultiplier.
  • the above technique is suitable for any case in which an odd number of finger portions are required for each transverse member.
  • a first focussing electrode 15 is provided between the photocathode 2 and the first transverse member 5.
  • the focussing electrode 15 can conveniently be formed in a one-piece construction, with thin finger portions extending between upper and lower webs and the regions between said portions being stamped or cut out.
  • Typical voltages to'be applied in operation of such a photomultiplier are:- 0V to the photocathode, 5.to l5V to the first focussing electrode 15, and V, 200V, 300V, 400V, 500V, and 600V, respectively to the six transverse plate members, the voltages applied to said members increasing with distance from the photocathode 2.
  • Typical dimensions for the widthsof finger portions such as 7 and 8 are 2.2mm and 1.8mm respectively.
  • the window or faceplate comprises a fibre optic block 16 formed in known manner.
  • Light is conducted to the photocathode 2 by means of bundles, such as 17, of fibre optics elements from light generated by a source such as an X-ray machine.
  • the bundles 17 are carried by suitable support means 18 and an apertured mask 19 is interposed between the faceplate l6'and the support means 18.
  • the apertures in the mask correspond to the multiplying channels.
  • the multiplier operates as previously described.
  • the device may be used for multiplying electrons generated by sources other than photoemitters.
  • An electron multiplier having a hermetically sealed envelope, a plurality of secondary electron emissive multiplying electrodes in said envelope, said electrodes comprising a plurality of parallel conductive plates arranged one behind the other and slit to form fingers in the planes of said plates with alternate fingers being twisted out of the planes of the plates perpendicular thereto, the twisted fingers in successive plates being staggered to form separate zigzag electron multiplying channels.
  • An electron multiplier according to claim 1 including a photocathode as a source of electrons to be multiplied.
  • An electron multiplier including focussing means disposed between a source of electrons and a first of said plates to direct electrons into respective channels.
  • An electron multiplier including collecting electrodes for collecting electrons having traversed said multiplying channels.

Landscapes

  • Image-Pickup Tubes, Image-Amplification Tubes, And Storage Tubes (AREA)
  • Common Detailed Techniques For Electron Tubes Or Discharge Tubes (AREA)
  • Electron Tubes For Measurement (AREA)
US444370A 1973-02-27 1974-02-21 Electron multiplier formed by twisting fingers in parallel plates Expired - Lifetime US3872337A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB974773A GB1470162A (en) 1973-02-27 1973-02-27 Electron multiplying arrangements

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3872337A true US3872337A (en) 1975-03-18

Family

ID=9877997

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US444370A Expired - Lifetime US3872337A (en) 1973-02-27 1974-02-21 Electron multiplier formed by twisting fingers in parallel plates

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3872337A (enExample)
JP (1) JPS5026467A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2407424C3 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2219524B1 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1470162A (enExample)
NL (1) NL7402680A (enExample)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4306171A (en) * 1979-08-13 1981-12-15 Rca Corporation Focusing structure for photomultiplier tubes
US4339684A (en) * 1978-12-22 1982-07-13 Anvar Electron multiplier tube with axial magnetic field
EP1089320A4 (en) * 1998-06-15 2002-10-25 Hamamatsu Photonics Kk ELECTRONIC TUBE
US11302522B2 (en) 2018-06-06 2022-04-12 Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. First-stage dynode and photomultiplier tube

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2611706C2 (de) * 1975-02-21 1984-09-27 Emi Ltd., Hayes Computer-Tomograph
EP0001483A1 (en) * 1977-10-12 1979-04-18 EMI Limited A multichannel electron multiplier arrangement
DE102013012609B4 (de) * 2013-07-26 2024-06-27 Carl Zeiss Microscopy Gmbh Optoelektronischer Detektor, insbesondere für hochauflösende Lichtrastermikroskope und Lichtrastermikroskop

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2236041A (en) * 1936-11-20 1941-03-25 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Electron discharge device
US2443547A (en) * 1945-08-21 1948-06-15 Rca Corp Dynode
US3119037A (en) * 1960-03-05 1964-01-21 Emi Ltd Photo-emissive devices
US3392296A (en) * 1965-08-27 1968-07-09 Wagner Electric Corp Electron multiplier amplifier discharge device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2236041A (en) * 1936-11-20 1941-03-25 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Electron discharge device
US2443547A (en) * 1945-08-21 1948-06-15 Rca Corp Dynode
US3119037A (en) * 1960-03-05 1964-01-21 Emi Ltd Photo-emissive devices
US3392296A (en) * 1965-08-27 1968-07-09 Wagner Electric Corp Electron multiplier amplifier discharge device

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4339684A (en) * 1978-12-22 1982-07-13 Anvar Electron multiplier tube with axial magnetic field
US4306171A (en) * 1979-08-13 1981-12-15 Rca Corporation Focusing structure for photomultiplier tubes
EP1089320A4 (en) * 1998-06-15 2002-10-25 Hamamatsu Photonics Kk ELECTRONIC TUBE
US6538399B1 (en) 1998-06-15 2003-03-25 Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. Electron tube
US11302522B2 (en) 2018-06-06 2022-04-12 Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. First-stage dynode and photomultiplier tube

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2219524A1 (enExample) 1974-09-20
FR2219524B1 (enExample) 1978-09-15
JPS5026467A (enExample) 1975-03-19
DE2407424C3 (de) 1979-06-13
DE2407424B2 (de) 1978-10-19
DE2407424A1 (de) 1974-08-29
GB1470162A (en) 1977-04-14
NL7402680A (enExample) 1974-08-29

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: ZENITH ELECTRONICS CORPORATION, A CORP OF DELAWARE

Free format text: LICENSE;ASSIGNOR:OAK INDUSTRIES, INC.,;REEL/FRAME:005284/0010

Effective date: 19881102

AS Assignment

Owner name: THORN EMI PATENTS LIMITED, ENGLAND

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:EMI LIMITED;REEL/FRAME:005333/0050

Effective date: 19890731