noun
- An electrode in a photomultiplier tube or similar vacuum tube that emits secondary electrons when struck by primary electrons or photons.
Usage: technical; electronics
Examples
- The photomultiplier tube uses a series of dynodes to amplify the initial electron signal.
- Each dynode in the cascade is held at a progressively higher voltage to accelerate incoming electrons.
- The secondary emission from the dynode allows for significant signal amplification in light detection applications.
- Modern imaging sensors have largely replaced dynode-based tubes in consumer electronics.