A novel method of low light readout is evaluated here. Traditionally, signals of tens to hundreds of photons are read out by photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), which provide gain of <math>10^6</math> via a cascade of electrons multiplied on collision at each of the device's sequential dinodes. The small cross-section light channels in the high rate tagger microscope that will operate the Hall-D of Jefferson Lab call for a new and more efficient approach. Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) are discussed on the merit of their gain, detection efficiency, speed and noise level. | A novel method of low light readout is evaluated here. Traditionally, signals of tens to hundreds of photons are read out by photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), which provide gain of <math>10^6</math> via a cascade of electrons multiplied on collision at each of the device's sequential dinodes. The small cross-section light channels in the high rate tagger microscope that will operate the Hall-D of Jefferson Lab call for a new and more efficient approach. Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) are discussed on the merit of their gain, detection efficiency, speed and noise level. |