The Tynode
A new vacuum electron multiplier
Harry van der Graaf (TU Delft - RST/Neutron and Photon Methods for Materials, Nikhef)
Hassan Akhtar
Neil Budko (TU Delft - Numerical Analysis)
Hong Wah Chan (TU Delft - Electronic Components, Technology and Materials)
Cornelis W. Hagen (TU Delft - ImPhys/Charged Particle Optics)
Conny C.T. Hansson (Nikhef, TU Delft - ImPhys/Charged Particle Optics)
Gert Nützel (Photonis)
Sergio D. Pinto (Photonis)
Violeta Prodanović (TU Delft - Electronic Components, Technology and Materials)
Behrouz Raftari
Pasqualina M. Sarro (TU Delft - Electronic Components, Technology and Materials)
John Sinsheimer (Brookhaven National Laboratory)
John Smedley (Brookhaven National Laboratory)
Shuxia Tao (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Anne M.M.G. Theulings (TU Delft - RST/Neutron and Photon Methods for Materials, Nikhef)
Kees Vuik (TU Delft - Numerical Analysis)
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Abstract
By placing, in vacuum, a stack of transmission dynodes (tynodes) on top of a CMOS pixel chip, a single free electron detector could be made with outstanding performance in terms of spatial and time resolution. The essential object is the tynode: an ultra thin membrane, which emits, at the impact of an energetic electron on one side, a multiple of electrons at the other side. The electron yields of tynodes have been calculated by means of GEANT-4 Monte Carlo simulations, applying special low-energy extensions. The results are in line with another simulation based on a continuous charge-diffusion model. By means of Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) technology, tynodes and test samples have been realized. The secondary electron yield of several samples has been measured in three different setups. Finally, several possibilities to improve the yield are presented.