photomultiplier
- noun
- /ˌfoʊtoʊˈmʌltɪˌplaɪər/
- Specialized
- The light from the specimen is detected by a photomultiplier tube through a pinhole, which eliminates out-of-focus light by acting as a spatial filter, and the output is displayed by the computer.
- photomultiplier tube
- to detect with a photomultiplier
Examples
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Each crystal detector is viewed by seven photomultiplier tubes.
Academic text (1990) -
And then we can also try playing with the photomultiplier voltage to get a little bit of a better image.
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Only a photomultiplier is deployed at the end of a long cable.
Academic text (2000) -
After a couple of days, the photomultipliers sent back the first light signals left by cosmic-ray muons streaking through the deep ice.
Academic text (2000) -
The emitted light is detected by a photomultiplier tube and digitized with an 8- or 16-bit analog-to-digital converter.
Academic text (1995) -
The light drives the photoelectric effect in a photomultiplier tube that produces a measurable pulse proportional to the energy of the incident gamma-ray photon.
Academic text (1994) -
The scientist calibrated the photomultiplier to enhance the detection of faint light signals during the experiment.
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In many particle physics experiments, researchers use photomultiplier tubes to convert light into measurable electronic signals.
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Each photomultiplier in the detector array plays a crucial role in measuring low levels of radiation.
Synonyms
A device that senses light and makes an electric signal
A device that senses light and makes an electric signal
A small device that lets more electricity pass when light hits it
A small device that changes its electric signal when light falls on it
A device that detects very weak light and makes it stronger
A part in a camera or machine that detects light and makes an electric signal
How Sensitive
Surface Forms
Morphology
photomultiplier = multiplier (semi-transparent) = photo + multiply + er
The word is built transparently from photo- plus multiplier, but the technical sense of a light-detecting signal amplifier is specialized rather than fully obvious to a learner.
Etymology
Photomultiplier combines photo and multiplier: photo means 'light', as in photograph, and multiplier comes from multiply meaning 'to increase' or 'to make more'. So a photomultiplier is a device that makes a very weak light signal much bigger so we can measure it.