MODERN PHOTOMULTIPLIERS FOR KINETIC AND SINGLE-PHOTON SPECTROMETRY (REVIEW)

Basic characteristics of photomultipliers (mainly produced in Russia) are analyzed from the viewpoint of their application in single-photon and kinetic spectrometry for measuring luminescence spectra, kinetics of optical processes, etc. Fundamental physical processes governing th e time resolution of photomultipliers are discussed. It is shown that spatial variations of the following main time parameters of photomulti pliers have a significant effect on their response: fluctuations of th e electron transit times caused by the spread in the initial photoelec tron velocities, variance of the signal transit time in the multiplyin g system, and the differences in the transit times due to the inequali ty of the photoelectron paths. Fast 128ELU-Phi 15 and 14ELU-Phi K phot omultipliers, produced by the vacuum-monitoring technique, are used to illustrate that application of this technology allows the spectral re sponse of these devices to be extended into the IR range (up to 1350-1 400 nm) and to demonstrate the effect of the aforesaid factors on the photodetector characteristics. The main parameters are presented for t he broadband photomultipliers produced at the following Russian enterp rises: Moscow Factory of Vacuum Tubes, VNII Elektron, and All-Russia R esearch Institute of Optical and Physical Measurements.