photomultiplier tube (PMT)
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Introduction
An electron multiplier. Electrons released by photoelectric emission are muliplied in successive stages by dynodes that produce secondary emission. The output of a PMT is an analog voltage that must be digitized.
It is important that the gain or the output of the PMT is linear over a wide range of photoemission signals when the voltage is fixed. Typically, the response of the PMT in non-linear with respect to voltage changes.
Advantages
- no read noise
- low internal noise
Disadvantages
- low quantum efficiency (15%)
References
- ↑ Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam-Webster Inc. Springfield, MA 1990 Microarrays for the Neurosciences, Geschwind DH & Greg JP (eds), MIT Press, Cambridge MA, 2002