electron multiplication

Electron multiplication is a process used in devices like photo-multiplier tubes to amplify weak electrical signals. When a photon hits a sensitive surface, it releases an electron. This electron is then accelerated in a strong electric field, causing it to strike a material that releases additional electrons. These new electrons are further accelerated, generating even more electrons through repeated cycles. This chain reaction results in a large number of electrons from a single initial event, effectively boosting a tiny signal into a measurable current. This process allows for the detection of very faint light or electrical signals with high sensitivity.