Detection of electrical discharges in DC accelerator using photomultiplier tubes

Detection of Electrical Discharges using chemical, electrical, acoustic and optical techniques holds key to the protection of any high voltage (HV) system. DC Accelerator, being a HV system is prone to various electrical discharges. In DC Accelerators, optical technique promises better performance than other detection techniques due to its fast response and inherent immunity to electromagnetic noises. Photomultiplier tubes (PMT) are used for collecting the discharge signatures. Experimental prototypes of the accelerator discharges are developed. PMTs are used to detect the signals from these discharges.