Photomultiplier Tube. A low-noise vacuum device requiring high voltages to accelerate electrons and producing very high gains. Can detect individual photons. One detected photon on the photo-cathode can produce a very short pulse containing millions of photoelectrons. PMTs usually operate between the blue and red regions of the visible spectrum, with greater quantum efficiency in the blue-green region, depending upon photo-cathode materials. Maximum quantum efficiencies are about 25%.