Abstract

An instrumental technique is described for measuring the variations of transit time of signals through a photodetector as a function of the position of the light beam on the photosurface. Precision of 3 psec may be obtained with simple, commercial components; a coherent light source is not required. Data are given for two types of photomultipliers, showing the fine structure of the transit time behavior and the effects of beam diameter. A contour map of equal transit time regions is shown for one of the tubes tested. The results are of interest in certain optical systems used in measuring distance and speed of light determinations.

© 1969 Optical Society of America

The Use of Photomultiplier Tubes for Photon Counting

R. Foord, R. Jones, C. J. Oliver, and E. R. Pike
Appl. Opt. 8(10) 1975-1989 (1969)

Simultaneous Measurement of the Transit Time of Radio and Optical Signals

L. E. Wood and M. C. Thompson
Appl. Opt. 7(10) 1955-1959 (1968)

Photometric Error Analysis. IX: Optimum Use of Photomultipliers

A. T. Young
Appl. Opt. 8(12) 2431-2447 (1969)

Noise in the Measurement of Light with Photomultipliers

F. Robben
Appl. Opt. 10(4) 776-796 (1971)

Variation of Time-of-Flight of Electrons Through a Photomultiplier*

James D. Rees and M. Parker Givens
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 56(1) 93-95 (1966)