Accession No

6633

Brief Description

photomultiplier tube, by Hamamatsu TV Company Ltd., Japanese, c. 1960s

Origin

Japan

Maker

Hamamatsu TV Company Ltd.

Class

astronomy; physics

Earliest Date

1960

Latest Date

1979

Inscription Date

Material

glass; metal (steel); plastic (foam, other)

Dimensions

220mm (width) x 53mm (depth) x 85mm (height)

Special Collection

Provenance

Donated by an individual on or before 31/01/2017. The donor reports that this tube was used in the 36 inch Madingley Road Observatory (Cambridge Institute of Astronomy), c. 1970s.

Inscription

Description Notes

Photomultiplier tube, by Hamamatsu TV, Japanese, c. 1960s

Photomultiplier tube, by Hamamatsu TV, Japanese, c. 1960s. Model number R562. Inscribed by hand on the tube in silver is '69-23-29'. Comes in black plastic box with grey foam padding, labelled:
'HTV Electron Tube
Type R562
No. SA 5
Hamamatsu TV Co. Ltd.'

According to the donor, he acquired this tube about 40 years ago after it had been in the 36 inch telescope on Madingley road for an unknown period of time. He writes, 'the screen at the front of the PMT picks up the light from the star and converts it into a tiny electrical current. The metal plates inside the tube then multiply the current until it is of a measurable size'.

In good condition, complete.

References

Events