New Developments in Hybrid Photon Detectors

TL;DR

This paper introduces innovative hybrid photon detector designs with improved efficiency, feedback prevention, and imaging capabilities, driven by applications in high energy physics and astrophysics.

Contribution

It presents three novel HPD design innovations: efficient peripheral photoelectron focusing, ion feedback prevention with a potential barrier, and a new reflective photocathode concept.

Findings

Enhanced surface coverage in RICH detectors

Effective ion feedback suppression

High quantum efficiency and good imaging

Abstract

New developments in HPD design are presented, triggered by applications in high energy physics and astrophysics. The presented HPD designs are based on three innovations. (i) In order to achieve the highest possible surface coverage in a RICH detector, we introduced a photoelectron focussing method which is efficient to the periphery of the photocathode. (ii) To prevent positive ion feedback in HPDs, we introduced a permanent potential barrier in front of the anode. (iii) To replace a transmittive by a reflective photocathode, we arrived at a conceptually new HPD design with surprisingly good imaging characteristics, high quantum efficiency and low cost.