Photocathode having internal amplification
US4829355A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 1986 |
| Grant date | May 9, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J2201/3423
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A photocathode having internal amplification includes a first electrode adapted for receiving a first voltage, and for transmitting received photons. An absorption layer is disposed adjacent the first electrode and comprises a P-type semiconductor material having a forbidden band of sufficiently small width to cause photons received through said first electrode to be converted into electron-hole pairs. At least one ionization-induced electron multiplication layer is disposed adjacent the absorption layer. Each such multiplication layer comprises two layers of N-type semiconductor material having respectively two different compositions at an interface therebetween. The two different compositions at the interface cause the multiplication layer, when biased, to accelerate the electrons received from the absorption layer to a degree greater than the acceleration provided to the holes received from the absorption layer. A second electrode is disposed adjacent the multiplication layer and receives a second voltage to cause the photocathode to be biased. In addition, the second electrode transmits the accelerated electrons received from the multiplication layer. An emission layer is dispo…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.