Electron multiplier having self-adjusting gain function
OwnerAntony Nicholas Jones, Daen David Ekers +1inventors
InventorsAntony Nicholas Jones, Daen David Ekers, Russell John Jurek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for determining a performance parameter of an electron multiplier having a series of electron emissive surfaces forming electron multiplication chain, by comparing a first electron flux of a first electron emissive surface of the electron multiplication chain with a second electron flux of a second electron emissive surface of the electron multiplication chain, or of an electron collector of the electron multiplier. A method of operating an electron multiplier and an electron multiplier or an electron multiplication system is also described.
Claims17
A method for determining a performance parameter of an electron multiplier having a series of electron emissive surfaces forming an electron multiplication chain, the method comprising:
- comparing a first electron flux of a first electron emissive surface of the electron multiplication chain with a second electron flux of a second electron emissive surface of the electron multiplication chain, or of an electron collector of the electron multiplier.
A method of operating an electron multiplier having a series of electron emissive surfaces forming electron multiplication chain, the method comprising:
- determining a performance parameter of the electron multiplier by comparing a first electron flux of a first electron emissive surface of the electron multiplication chain with a second electron flux of a second electron emissive surface of the electron multiplication chain, or of an electron collector of the electron multiplier;
- comparing the performance parameter to a predetermined value or a predetermined range for the performance parameter;
- and
- when the performance parameter is not the predetermined value or is outside the predetermined range for the performance parameter, altering an operating parameter of the electron multiplier such that the performance parameter is the predetermined value or is inside the predetermined range for the performance parameter.
An electron multiplier or an electron multiplication system having a series of electron emissive surfaces forming electron multiplication chain, the electron multiplier or the electron multiplication system comprising:
- circuitry having a processor;
- and
- processor-executable program instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- determining a performance parameter of the electron multiplier by comparing a first electron flux of a first electron emissive surface of the electron multiplication chain with a second electron flux of a second electron emissive surface of the electron multiplication chain, or of an electron collector of the electron multiplier;
- comparing the performance parameter to a predetermined value or a predetermined range for the performance parameter;
- and
- when the performance parameter is not the predetermined value or is outside the predetermined range for the performance parameter, altering an operating parameter of the electron multiplier such that the performance parameter is the predetermined value or is inside the predetermined range for the performance parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.