Hey Guys,

Quick question about Photomultiplier Tubes.

Do PMTs spatially and/or spectrally resolve an optical signal? or does it just work as a "photon counter" ?

Thanks guys.

 

Hello,

Here is the Photo multiplier handbook from hamamatsu.(PDF)

Greetings,
Bertus

 

With the correct formulation on the photocathode, PMT's can be made to preferentially respond to selected light frequencies. But photoelectric effect is photoelectric effect.

An array of them can do spacial resolution. There are a couple of large arrays operating underground to detect neutrons.

Spectral resolution is usually done in signal processing. Photons carrying different energies produce output with characteristic pulse heights. A pulse height analyzer can be set to pass only pulses with specified heights and so only count events produced by specific frequencies.

 

Hey Guys,

Quick question about Photomultiplier Tubes.

Do PMTs spatially and/or spectrally resolve an optical signal? or does it just work as a "photon counter" ?

Thanks guys.

A single PMT is just a photon counter. ARRAYS of PMT's can do all the other things you suggest.

eric