Spectres d'impulsions a “un photoelectron”: I. Application à l'étude de l'origine du bruit de fond d'un photomultiplicateur

Abstract

I. Single photoelectron pulse spectra and photomultiplier background noise Amplitude distribution of single photoelectron pulses. Observations of such distributions for various multipliers. Differences between amplitude distributions for signal and background noise. Hypotheses regarding the origin of the noise based on this difference. Various tests showing the validity of these assumptions. II. Weak light fluxes, detected by single photoelectrons Definition of a weak light flux. Methods of detection: pulse technique or anodic current measurement. Differences between the two modes, regarding the anodic time constant. Comparing their respective advantages, relative accuracy and sensitivity limit. Best conditions for detecting weak light fluxes. Selection of photomultipliers able to detect single photoelectron pulses.