Status and perspectives of solid state photon detectors

Recent years have seen a considerable progress in the development of solid state photon detectors. In particular it is the Geiger mode avalanche photodiode, also known as the silicon photomultiplier (SiPM), which is much investigated for its single photon sensitivity as well as its other appealing properties. In the present paper we discuss the recent advances of such photon detectors as well as possibilities for their application, mainly in ring imaging Cherenkov detectors.