Been there done that. I talked at length with one of there engineers when this offer PMT exchange offer was made last summer. As it turns out the devices are not a true replacement for PMTs used in sensitive nuclear detection scenarios. They just aren't that sensitive. For those simple and more spartan uses like the old RCA 930, yeah, but a nice 10-14 stage PMT is still on top in the photon detection biz. Add to the above the huge cost associated with really large area devices capable of working with realistic scintillator sizes and the fact that 5" pmts are avaialble surplus real cheap, and the advantage of the solid state device fades fast.
I was real excited too when I first saw this but the guilding was off the lilly following a nice frank chat with one of their engineers. The nail went in the coffin when told the price of a decent sized device.
Solid state, still, after 50 years, can't shove the glow fets or fire bottles totally out the door. These hollow state devices are still in the dark corners and rough back alleys where the tough and singularly unique abide and survive under the most servere and unforgiving conditions.
Richard Hull
Created on Monday, January 22, 2001 9:57 PM EDT by Richard Hull