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A dynode is an electrode within an electron tube that produces secondary emission of electrons. This process is crucial in devices like photomultiplier tubes, which are used to measure very low light intensities.12

In a photomultiplier tube, a photosensitive cathode emits electrons when struck by light. These electrons are then attracted to a series of dynodes, each held at a progressively higher positive voltage. When an electron hits a dynode, it causes the dynode to emit several secondary electrons. This multiplication effect cascades through each dynode, significantly amplifying the initial signal before it reaches the final detector. This principle is also applied in electron multipliers used in mass spectrometry to detect ion beams with extreme sensitivity.23

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