Timing Performance of a Micro-Channel-Plate Photomultiplier Tube

TL;DR

This study evaluates the timing performance of a Micro-Channel-Plate Photomultiplier Tube across its active area, demonstrating high resolution in the inner region and validating its use as a precise timing reference in high-energy physics experiments.

Contribution

The paper provides a detailed spatial characterization of MCP-PMT timing performance and confirms its suitability as a $ ext{t}_ ext{0}$ reference detector.

Findings

Inner region time resolution better than 10 ps

Radial dependence matches simulation

Outer region performance degrades due to light loss

Abstract

The spatial dependence of the timing performance of the R3809U-50 Micro-Channel-Plate PMT (MCP-PMT) by Hamamatsu was studied in high energy muon beams. Particle position information is provided by a GEM tracker telescope, while timing is measured relative to a second MCP-PMT, identical in construction. In the inner part of the circular active area (radius r$<$5.5\,mm) the time resolution of the two MCP-PMTs combined is better than 10~ps. The signal amplitude decreases in the outer region due to less light reaching the photocathode, resulting in a worse time resolution. The observed radial dependence is in quantitative agreement with a dedicated simulation. With this characterization, the suitability of MCP-PMTs as $\text{t}_\text{0}$ reference detectors has been validated.