An innovative technique for TPB deposition on convex window photomultiplier tubes

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel evaporation technique using a Knudsen cell and rotating support for depositing uniform TPB layers on convex PMT windows, enhancing light conversion efficiency.

Contribution

The work introduces a specific evaporation method for TPB coating on convex PMT windows, improving uniformity and efficiency over previous techniques.

Findings

Demonstrated improved uniformity of TPB layers

Achieved higher light conversion efficiency

Validated through simulation and experimental tests

Abstract

Tetraphenyl-butadiene (TPB) is an organic fluorescent chemical compound generally used as wavelength shifter thanks to its extremely high efficiency to convert ultra-violet photons into visible light. A common method to use TPB with detectors sensitive to visible light, such as photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), is to deposit thin layers on the device window. To obtain effective TPB layers, different procedures can be used. In this work a specific evaporation technique adopted to coat 8 in. convex windows photomultiplier tubes is presented. It consists in evaporating TPB by means of a Knudsen cell, which allows to strictly control the process, and in a rotating sample support, which guarantees the uniformity of the deposition. Simulation results and experimental tests demonstrate the effectiveness of this evaporation technique from the point of view of deposition uniformity and light conversion efficiency.