Phototube

Phototube

A phototube is a type of gas-filled or vacuum tube that is extremely sensitive to light in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Operating principles

Phototubes operate according to the photoelectric effect: Incoming photons strike a photocathode, generating electrons, which are attracted to an anode. Thus current flow is dependent on the frequency and intensity of incoming photons. Unlike photomultiplier tubes, no amplification takes place, so the current generated is typically on the order of microamperes.

Applications

One major application of the phototube was the reading of optical sound tracks for projected films. Phototubes were used in a variety of light-sensing applications until they were superseded by photoresistors and photodiodes.

External links

* [http://www.du.edu/~etuttle/electron/elect30.htm J.B. Calvert - Phototubes]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • phototube — [fōt′ō to͞ob΄, fōt′ōtyo͞ob΄] n. [ PHOTO(ELECTRIC) + TUBE] a vacuum tube designed to convert light energy into electrical energy by means of a photoemissive cathode …   English World dictionary

  • phototube — vakuuminis fotoelementas statusas T sritis automatika atitikmenys: angl. phototube; vacuum phototube vok. Photoemissionszelle, f; Vakuumphotozelle, f rus. вакуумный фотоэлемент, m pranc. cellule photo électrique à vide, f; tube photo émissif à… …   Automatikos terminų žodynas

  • phototube — noun Date: 1930 an electron tube having a photoemissive cathode whose released electrons are drawn to the anode by reason of its positive potential …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • phototube — /foh teuh toohb , tyoohb /, n. Electronics. an electron tube with a photosensitive cathode, used like a photocell. Also called photoelectric tube. [1925 30; PHOTO + TUBE] * * * …   Universalium

  • phototube — noun A gas filled electron tube that has a photosensitive cathode …   Wiktionary

  • phototube — pho·to·tube …   English syllables

  • phototube — pho•to•tube [[t]ˈfoʊ təˌtub, ˌtyub[/t]] n. elo elm an electron tube with a photosensitive cathode, used like a photocell • Etymology: 1925–30 …   From formal English to slang

  • phototube — /ˈfoʊtoʊtjub/ (say fohtohtyoohb) noun → photoelectric cell …  

  • phototube — ˈfōd.ō+ˌ noun Etymology: phot + tube : an electron tube having a photoemissive cathode whose released electrons are drawn to the anode by reason of its positive potential …   Useful english dictionary

  • vacuum phototube — vakuuminis fotoelementas statusas T sritis automatika atitikmenys: angl. phototube; vacuum phototube vok. Photoemissionszelle, f; Vakuumphotozelle, f rus. вакуумный фотоэлемент, m pranc. cellule photo électrique à vide, f; tube photo émissif à… …   Automatikos terminų žodynas

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