STATUS AND PERSPECTIVES OF CHERENKOV IMAGING COUNTERS

The status of the art in the field of Cherenkov imaging counters is outlined with emphasis to the wide domain of application of these detectors and to the present achievements, illustrated by outstanding examples. The perspective in the field are presented discussing the novel detector concepts. Considering the central role that single photon detectors play in these imaging devices, the information is complemented by reviewing the new possibilities offered by the intense research and development activity performed in the sector of single photon detectors. The Renascence of the time of flight technique thanks to new photon detectors with time resolution well below 100 ps is also considered: potentially, this approach can compete with Cherenkov imaging devices in providing particle identification in the few GeV/c momentum domain.