Abstract

Subject of study. The possibility of using the nonlinear current mode of operation of a photomultiplier tube for measurements of luminescence kinetics was investigated. Aim of study. This study aimed to validate the possibility of using the nonlinear current mode of operation of a photomultiplier tube to determine the kinetic properties of small luminescence signals of condensed media, including the signals that cannot be detected in a linear current mode. Method. The signal arriving at a high-impedance (1 MΩ) input of a digital oscilloscope from a photomultiplier tube via a coaxial cable was measured. This signal is a convolution of a photocurrent pulse with a kinetic instrument function determined by the discharge of capacitance in the measurement circuit of the photomultiplier tube. The bandwidth of the circuit was determined by the lowest frequency of its elements instead of the characteristic time of the instrument function. The real photocurrent signal was reconstructed by the deconvolution of the digital convoluted array. The pulsed cathodoluminescence method was used to detect the kinetics. Main results. A method for measuring the kinetics of small optical signals in the current mode of operation of a photomultiplier tube connected to a high-impedance input of a digital oscilloscope was presented. The results of using this method to measure the kinetics of pulsed cathodoluminescence of impurity and intrinsic centers in ceramic and monocrystalline samples of yttrium aluminum garnet were presented. The direct determination of characteristic decay times by approximating the convoluted curves without deconvolution was demonstrated for an exponential luminescence decay profile. Practical significance. The proposed method for the characteristic time detection of luminescence kinetics enables comprehensive analysis of luminescence that can be applied in various sectors of the national economy.

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