One-electron mode of Phi(sic)y-130 multiplier tubes and detection of Cerenkov radiation photons

Methods for the detection of single photons with photomultiplier tubes (PMT s), semiconductor, and combined detectors are compared. The one-electron ch aracteristics of modern detectors and the analytical relationships between the one- and multi-electron amplitude resolution and the dynode secondary-e mission coefficients are presented. The pulse height spectra of short light pulses (tau = 1.5-15 ns) produced by a setup with an avalanche generator w ere measured with Phi(sic)Y-130 PMTs operating in the one-electron mode, an d this technique was shown to be promising for the detection of Cerenkov ra diation. With the aim of using Phi sicY-130 PMTs in differential Cerenkov c ounters, methods to further improve their one-electron characteristics were considered.