Low power photomultiplier tube circuit and method therefor
AssigneeSandia National Laboratories
InventorsEdwin B. Bochenski, Jack L. Skinner, Paul M. Dentinger, Scott C. Lindblom
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Abstract
An electrical circuit for a photomultiplier tube (PMT) is disclosed that reduces power consumption to a point where the PMT may be powered for extended periods with a battery. More specifically, the invention concerns a PMT circuit comprising a low leakage switch and a high voltage capacitor positioned between a resistive divider and each of the PMT dynodes, and a low power control scheme for recharging the capacitors.
Claims14
A low power consuming circuit, comprising:
- a photomultiplier comprising a cathode, an anode, and n electron multiplying elements disposed therebetween, wherein n is an integer increasing from 1;
- biasing means for biasing said cathode and said n electron multiplying elements with an operating voltage;
- means for electrically disconnecting said cathode and each of said n electron multiplying elements from said biasing means;
- and
- means for maintaining said operating voltage on said cathode and said n electron multiplying elements while said cathode and said n electron multiplying elements are electrically disconnected from said biasing means.
A method for providing a low power consuming photomultiplier tube (PMT) circuit, comprising the steps of:
- electrically connecting each of a PMT cathode and one or more PMT dynodes with a separate one of a plurality of energy storage means, wherein each of said PMT cathode and said one or more PMT dynodes is biased with an operating voltage;
- charging each of said plurality of energy storage means with an electric potential;
- and
- electrically disconnecting each of said PMT cathode and said one or more PMT dynodes from said separate energy storage means.
A method for providing a low power consuming photomultiplier tube (PMT) circuit, comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of energy storage means, wherein each energy storage means is electrically connected separately to one of a PMT cathode or one or more PMT dynodes;
- biasing each of said separate energy storage means with an electric potential, wherein said PMT cathode, and each of said one or more PMT dynodes is biased with an operating voltage;
- and
- electrically disconnecting each of said PMT cathode and said one or more PMT dynodes from said separate energy storage means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.