Low energy measurements with the photomultiplier scintillation counter

The method of statistical generating functions is used to investigate the process of cascade multiplication. The equations developed are used to examine the nature of the pulse height distribution curve from the scintillation counter and to evaluate the counting efficiency of this instrument. It is found that the maximum of the distribution may be displaced considerably from the position of the mean and curves are drawn to illustrate this. The effects of non-uniform photocathode and dynode surfaces are investigated and it is concluded that these have little influence compared with the normal statistical processes.