Light sensor assembly in a vacuum environment

A light sensor assembly comprising:

• a photocathode configured for converting an impinging photon to a photoelectron;
• a semiconductor diode configured for multiplying the photoelectron impinging thereon;
• and
• a housing comprising vacuum-compatible materials configured for being placed in a vacuum chamber,
• said housing configured for housing the photocathode and the semiconductor diode and for propagation of the photoelectron from the photocathode to the semiconductor diode.

A method for generating an output signal indicative of a light signal in a vacuum chamber comprising:

• converting a photon impinging on a photocathode to a photoelectron;
• accelerating the photoelectron within a housing to a semiconductor diode configured for multiplying the photoelectron impinging thereon,
• positioning the housing within a vacuum chamber, the housing comprising vacuum-compatible materials and being configured for housing the photocathode and the semiconductor diode;
• and
• generating an output signal from the multiplied photoelectron.

An in-vacuum light sensor system, comprising:

• a light sensor assembly including:
• a photocathode configured for converting an impinging photon to a photoelectron;
• a semiconductor diode configured for multiplying the photoelectron impinging thereon;
• and
• a housing comprising vacuum-compatible materials configured for being placed in a vacuum chamber,
• said housing configured for housing the photocathode and the semiconductor diode and for propagation of the photoelectron from the photocathode to the semiconductor diode;
• an electrical biasing subassembly configured for electrically biasing at least the photocathode and the semiconductor diode;
• and
• the vacuum chamber configured for positioning the light sensor apparatus therein,
• wherein the particle is an ion and the particle detection system is deployed within a time of flight (TOF) system.