A Photomultiplier With an AlGaN Photocathode and Microchannel Plates for BaF2 Scintillator Detectors in Particle Physics

Barium fluoride (BaF2) crystals are considered as a candidate scintillator for scintillation detectors in high-energy physics because of high radiation hardness and short decay time (<; 1 ns) of the fast emission component. However, the high level of the slow emission component can deteriorate the detector time resolution. Special approaches are required to decrease this slow component. Using solar-blind photodetectors is one of the possible solutions. In this article, we describe a solar-blind photomultiplier with microchannel plates (MCP) that uses an aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) photocathode and a complete scintillation detector channel with a BaF
₂
crystal and the photomultiplier. The results of the cosmic-ray tests are presented that show the efficiency of detection of the BaF
₂
fast emission component and suppression of the slow one in the proposed scintillation detector.