PT Journal
AU Martin-Luna, P
   Esperante, D
   Prieto, AF
   Fuster-Martinez, N
   Rivas, IG
   Gimeno, B
   Ginestar, D
   Gonzalez-Iglesias, D
   Hueso, JL
   Llosa, G
   Martinez-Reviriego, P
   Meneses-Felipe, A
   Riera, J
   Regueiro, PV
   Hueso-Gonzalez, F
TI Simulation of electron transport and secondary emission in a photomultiplier tube and validation
SO Sensors and Actuators A-Physical
JI Sens. Actuator A-Phys.
PY 2024
BP 114859 - 10pp
VL 365
DI 10.1016/j.sna.2023.114859
LA English
DE Photomultiplier tube; Photodetector; Proton therapy; Monte Carlo simulation; Measurement
AB The electron amplification and transport within a photomultiplier tube (PMT) has been investigated by developing an in-house Monte Carlo simulation code. The secondary electron emission in the dynodes is implemented via an effective electron model and the Modified Vaughan's model, whereas the transport is computed with the Boris leapfrog algorithm. The PMT gain, rise time and transit time have been studied as a function of supply voltage and external magnetostatic field. A good agreement with experimental measurements using a Hamamatsu R13408-100 PMT was obtained. The simulations have been conducted following different treatments of the underlying geometry: three-dimensional, two-dimensional and intermediate (2.5D). The validity of these approaches is compared. The developed framework will help in understanding the behavior of PMTs under highly intense and irregular illumination or varying external magnetic fields, as in the case of prompt gamma-ray measurements during pencil-beam proton therapy; and aid in optimizing the design of voltage dividers with behavioral circuit models.
ER