Silicon photomultiplier as a position sensitive detector of Cherenkov photons

A novel photon detector, silicon photomultiplier, whose main advantage over photomultiplier tubes for RICH applications is the operation in high magnetic field environments, has been tested in view of measuring Cherenkov photons in a RICH counter. Results of the measurements of single photo-electron pulse height and timing distributions and of uniformity of the response are presented. Feasibility of a proximity focusing RICH counter using this type of photon detector is discussed.