Secondary electron emission multipliers as particle detectors

Abstract

Reviews the experiences and the progress in understanding made during the last half-decade in the domain of both the discontinuous and the continuous types of electron multiplier. The introduction compiles the essential notions and recalls some theoretical statements which are necessary for a pertinent judgment of the detection limits. The discontinuous type has been explored mainly with respect to the detection efficiency. Knowledge of the operational behaviour is relatively well established and is not discussed in detail. The situation is different for the continuous type; and their operation, performance stability and detection efficiency are discussed.