Advances in single-charge detectors and their applications

Modern gas avalanche detectors are instruments of choice for detecting sing le charges deposited in gas or emitted from thin; solid radiation converter s. We discuss principal factors governing the operation of gas avalanche ph otomultipliers, combining solid photocathodes with advanced micro-pattern g aseous multipliers and summarize the properties of UV photocathodes and fil m-protected photocathodes for the visible spectral range. We review recent progress and applications of single-charge counting detectors and discuss i n some detail their application to nanodosimetry and its relevance to studi es of radiation damage to DNA.