Fast photon detection for COMPASS RICH-1

A fast photon detection system has been built and assembled for the upgrade of COMPASS RICH-1. The system is based on multianode photomultipliers coupled to fused silica lenses to collect the light from a larger surface and to guide it to the photocathode, preserving the position information. The emphasis is on the fast response and high rate capability of the detectors and the associated electronics. The photon detection system is now ready and it will be employed in the 2006 COMPASS data taking. We report about the system design and construction.