silicon-intensifier-target (camera) tube

A (camera) tube for light detection using a silicon-based electron multiplication target. The "silicon-intensifier-target (camera) tube" has functions of electron-multiplication and charge-accumulation, and then operates even with a low intensity of light. To use the tube for electron microscopes, a fluorescent screen is placed at the front of the tube for converting incident electrons to light. The photoelectrons generated on the reflexible surface are accelerated to a several kV and imaged on the silicon-based target. Then, many electron-hole pairs are created, leading to a high amplification. Readout is done by sweeping an electron beam from behind the target. The advantages of the tube are high sensitivity and wide dynamic range. A disadvantage is that the surrounding part of the tube becomes dark through the lens action. Recently, the tube has been replaced with a compact and inexpensive CCD, which has unfortunately low sensitivity and narrow dynamic range but has a low noise level and does not have dark surrounding parts. Thus, the tube is not used currently for a TEM.

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