Absolute Optical Responsivity Down To The Photon Counting Level With A Photomultiplier Tube

A novel method is presented for evaluation of the absolute optical responsivity of a photomultiplier tube (PMT) at optical powers down to the photon counting level under visible light. This method is based on a combination of the calibrated responsivity and nonlinearity corrections using a silicon photodiode and a PMT. The evaluation results with the PMT enable accurate determination of the absolute optical responsivity over a wide power range of 10(-11) W to 10(-16) W under visible light. This method provides validation of both the photon counting efficiency of a PMT and of accurate optical measurement with attenuators at the photon counting level. Published by AIP Publishing.