Advances in gaseous photomultipliers

Abstract

We review latest progress in gaseous photomultipliers (GPMs) combining solid photocathodes and various types of novel electron multipliers. Cascaded gaseous electron multipliers (GEMs) coated with CsI photocathodes can efficiently replace UV-sensitive wire chambers for single-photon recording in Cherenkov and other detectors. Other hole-multipliers with patterned electrodes (Micro-Hole and Strip Plates) and improved ion-blocking properties are discussed; these permit reducing considerably photon- and ion-induced secondary effects. Photon detectors with other electron-multiplier techniques are briefly described, among them GPMs are based on Micromegas, capillary plates, Thick-GEMs and resistive Thick-GEMs. The two latter techniques, robust and economically produced, are particularly suited for large-area GPM applications, e.g. in RICH. Cascaded hole-multipliers with very high ion-blocking performance permitted the development and the first demonstration of visible-sensitive GPMs operated in continuous mode, with bialkali photocathodes and single-photon sensitivity. Recent progress is described in GPMs operating at cryogenic temperatures for rare-event noble-liquid detectors and medical imaging.