An electron multiplier production method including a main body portion, and a channel provided in the main body portion to open at one end surface and the other end surface of the main body portion and emits secondary electrons includes a first step of preparing a main body member including the one end surface and the other end surface, a communicating hole for the channel through which the one end surface and the other end surface communicate being provided in the main body member, a second step of forming the channel by forming a deposition layer including at least a resistive layer on an outer surface of the main body member and an inner surface of the communicating hole using an atomic layer deposition method, and a third step of forming the main body portion by removing the deposition layer formed on the outer surface of the main body member.

An electron multiplier production method including a main body portion, and a channel provided in the main body portion to open at one end surface and the other end surface of the main body portion and emits secondary electrons includes a first step of preparing a main body member including the one end surface and the other end surface, a communicating hole for the channel through which the one end surface and the other end surface communicate being provided in the main body member, a second step of forming the channel by forming a deposition layer including at least a resistive layer on an outer surface of the main body member and an inner surface of the communicating hole using an atomic layer deposition method, and a third step of forming the main body portion by removing the deposition layer formed on the outer surface of the main body member.

A photocathode assembly may include: a reflective substrate; an enhancement layer on the reflective substrate; and a photosensitive film on the enhancement layer, wherein the enhancement layer has a thickness of about 10 nm or less.

A photocathode assembly may include: a reflective substrate; an enhancement layer on the reflective substrate; and a photosensitive film on the enhancement layer, wherein the enhancement layer has a thickness of about 10 nm or less.

An enhanced electron amplifier structure includes a microporous substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, the microporous substrate including at least one channel extending substantially through the substrate between the front surface and the rear surface, an ion diffusion layer formed on a surface of the channel, the ion diffusion layer comprising a metal oxide, a resistive coating layer formed on the first ion diffusion layer, an emissive coating layer formed on the resistive coating layer, and an optional ion feedback layer formed on the front surface of the structure. The emissive coating produces a secondary electron emission responsive to an interaction with a particle received by the channel. The ion diffusion layer, the resistive coating layer, the emissive coating layer, and the ion feedback layer are independently deposited via chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition.

A solar generator can include a photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator with a cathode to receive solar radiation. The photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator can include an anode that in conjunction with the cathode generates a first current and waste heat from the solar radiation. A thermoelectric generator can be thermally coupled to the anode and can convert the waste heat from the anode into a second current. A circuit can connect to the photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator and to the thermoelectric generator and can combine the first and the second currents into an output current.

A solar generator can include a photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator with a cathode to receive solar radiation. The photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator can include an anode that in conjunction with the cathode generates a first current and waste heat from the solar radiation. A thermoelectric generator can be thermally coupled to the anode and can convert the waste heat from the anode into a second current. A circuit can connect to the photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator and to the thermoelectric generator and can combine the first and the second currents into an output current.

The invention discloses a photocathode comprising an amorphous substrate such as a glass substrate (110) presenting an input face that will receive incident photons and a back face opposite the front face. Nanowires (120) made from at least one III-V semiconducting material are deposited on the back face of the substrate and extend from this face in a direction away from the front face. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a photocathode by MBE.

The invention discloses a photocathode comprising an amorphous substrate such as a glass substrate (110) presenting an input face that will receive incident photons and a back face opposite the front face. Nanowires (120) made from at least one III-V semiconducting material are deposited on the back face of the substrate and extend from this face in a direction away from the front face. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a photocathode by MBE.

Disclosed herein is a photomultiplier comprising: an electron ejector; a detector; a substrate; and a first electrode in the substrate; a second electrode in the substrate; a third electrode in the substrate; wherein each of the first, second and third electrodes comprises a flat or curved surface at an angle to a normal direction of the substrate; wherein each of the first, second and third electrodes comprises a first end and a second end, the first end being closer to the electron ejector than the second end; wherein the first, second and third electrodes are spatially arranged such that the second ends of the first, second and third electrode are on a same plane, or such that a plane the second ends of the first and third electrodes are on crosses the second electrode.