First results of performance tests of the newly designed Vacuum Silicon Photo Multiplier Tube (VSiPMT)

We invented (2007) the VSiPMT, a novel, high-gain, photo detector device and we publically proposed this idea in an International Conference for the first time at the 11 super(th) Topical Seminar on Innovative Particle and Radiation Detectors (IPRD08) in Siena, triggering deep discussions on the feasibility of the device itself and on the convenience of such a solution. After several years spent in designing, evaluation, tests and eventually negotiations with some suppliers, we finally got a couple of prototypes of the Vacuum Silicon Photo Multiplier Tube (VSiPMT) made under our specifications by Hamamatsu. We present in this paper the most important results of characterization tests of the first prototypes of the VSiPMT.