Title: The Novel ABALONE Photosensor Technology: 4-Year Long Tests of Vacuum Integrity, Internal Pumping and Afterpulsing,
Abstract: The ABALONE Photosensor Technology (U.S. Patent 9064678 2015) has the
capability of supplanting the expensive 80 year old Photomultiplier Tube (PMT)
manufacture by providing a modern and cost effective alternative product. An
ABALONE Photosensor comprises only three monolithic glass components, sealed
together by our new thin film adhesive. In 2013, we left one of the early
ABALONE Photosensor prototypes intact for continuous stress testing, and here
we report its long term vacuum integrity. The exceptionally low ion
afterpulsing rate (approximately two orders of magnitude lower than in PMTs)
has been constantly improving. We explain the physical and technological
reasons for this achievement. Due to the cost-effectiveness and the specific
combination of features, including low level of radioactivity, integration into
large-area panels, and robustness, this technology can open new horizons in the
fields of fundamental physics, functional medical imaging, and nuclear
security.