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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/N06571/01
Title: THEORETICAL MODELLING AND FUNDAMENTAL MEASUREMENTS FOR IMPROVED PERFORMANCE OF PHOTOCATHODES
Principal Investigator: Townsend, Professor P
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Sch of Engineering and Design
Organisation: University of Sussex
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 January 2000 Ends: 31 December 2001 Value (£): 101,889
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Optoelect. Devices & Circuits
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Photomulitplier tubes display excellent features of high gain, wide wavelength response, good linearity and dynamic range and the ability to offer photon counting. Despite these benefits the quantum efficiency of the cathode material would profit from even higher performance in the UV/blue region, and at longer wavelengths (green, red, near IR) major improvements are essential. Higher cathode quantum efficiency should result by using non-planar structures that give intense optical absorption that couples the photon energy into the cathode layer. Such enhancements would allow the use of thinner layers, with consequent gains in electron extraction. The proposal will develop the theoretical modelling of various topographic structures for a variety of materials in order to optimise the cathode efficiency for both semitransparent and reflective cathodes. The theoretical aspects of the modelling need detailed data on the dielectric constants of real photocathodes across the spectral range. Experiments to provide these data will be made. Finally, in trial experiments an optical sensation method for long wave length performance has been found and experiments to optimise this will be made, as well as attempts to understand the mechanism.
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Organisation Website: http://www.sussex.ac.uk