Photomultiplier tube detector performance and stability for the Earth Observing System's SOLSTICE II instrument

Virginia Ann Drake; William E. McClintock; Richard A. Kohnert; Thomas N. Woods; Gary J. Rottman

doi:10.1117/12.410538

18 December 2000 Photomultiplier tube detector performance and stability for the Earth Observing System's SOLSTICE II instrument

Virginia Ann Drake, William E. McClintock, Richard A. Kohnert, Thomas N. Woods, Gary J. Rottman

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4139, Instrumentation for UV/EUV Astronomy and Solar Missions; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.410538
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2000, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The goal of the Earth Observing System (EOS) SOLar STellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment II (SOLSTICE II) is to measure the solar ultraviolet irradiance (115 nm - 320 nm) to within 5% of its absolute value with a 0.5% per year relative accuracy over the course of a minimum mission lifetime of five years. Most detectors degrade over time while studying the sun. The SOLSTICE instrument design is such that detector and optical system degradation is tracked by routinely observing a series of stable early-type stars. Any changes in the system may then be removed from the solar irradiance. Detector performance and stability lies at the heart of SOLSTICE experimental success. The SOLSTICE detectors are Hamamatsu R2078 PhotoMultiplier Tubes (PMTs). We have developed an integrated PMT package [PMT, PMT housing, (mu) -metal magnetic shield, high voltage divider, and pulse-amplifier discriminator (PAD)] that will achieve our performance objectives. We report here on both the design of the integrated detector package and the laboratory measurements of the operational lifetime performance characteristics of SOLSTICE detectors. These include pulse height distribution, quantum efficiency, photocathode surface uniformity, and magnetic susceptibility.

Citation Download Citation

Virginia Ann Drake, William E. McClintock, Richard A. Kohnert, Thomas N. Woods, and Gary J. Rottman "Photomultiplier tube detector performance and stability for the Earth Observing System's SOLSTICE II instrument", Proc. SPIE 4139, Instrumentation for UV/EUV Astronomy and Solar Missions, (18 December 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.410538

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available