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S in g le P h o to n Co u n tin g AP D, MC P & P MT D e te c to rs plus High Speed Amplifiers, Routers, Trigger Detectors, Constant Fraction Discriminators From Becker & Hickl, id Quantique and Hamamatsu F Boston Electronics Corporation 91 Boylston Street, Brookline MA 02445 USA (800)347-5445 or (617)566-3821 fax (617)731-0935 www.boselec.com [email protected] HPM-100-40 High Speed Hybrid Detector for TCSPC GaAsP cathode: Excellent detection efficiency Instrument response function 120 ps FWHM Clean response, no tails or secondary peaks No afterpulsing Excellent dynamic range of fluorescence decay measurement No afterpulsing peak in FCS measurements Internal generators for PMT operating voltages Power supply and control via bh DCC-100 card Overload shutdown Direct interfacing to all bh TCSPC systems Adapters to bh DCS-120 FLIM system and Zeiss LSM 710 NLO NDD port The HPM-100 module combines a Hamamatsu R10467-40 GaAsP hybrid PMT tube with the preamplifier and the generators for the PMT operating voltages in one compact housing. The principle of the hybrid PMT in combination with the GaAsP cathode yields excellent timing resolution, a clean TCSPC instrument response function, high detection quantum efficiency, and extremely low afterpulsing probability. The virtual absence of afterpulsing results in a substantially increased dynamic range for fluorescence decay recordings. Moreover, FCS curves obtained with the HPM-100 are free of the typical afterpulsing peak. FCS is thus obtained from a single detector, without the need of cross-correlation. The HPM-100 module is operated via the bh DCC-100 detector controller of the bh TCSPC systems. The DCC-100 provides for power supply, gain control, and overload shutdown. The HPM-100 interfaces directly to all bh SPC or Simple Tau TCSPC systems. It is available with standard C-mount adapters, adapters for the bh DCS-120 confocal scanning FLIM system, and adapters for the NDD ports of the Zeiss LSM 710 NLO multiphoton laser scanning microscopes. Instrument response function. Left linear scale, right logarithmic scale. FWHM is 120 ps. Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www becker-hickl com email: info@becker-hickl com US Representative: Boston Electronics Corp tcspc@boselec com www boselec com UK Representative: Photonic Solutions PLC sales@psplc com www psplc com HPM-100-40 Absence of afterpulsing improves dynamic range of fluorescence decay measurements Conventional PMT HPM-100 DCS-120 with HPM-100 Left: Fluorescence decay recorded with conventional PMT. The background is dominated by afterpulsing. Middle: The only source of background in the HPM is thermal emission of the photocathode. The dynamic range is substantially increased. Right: The lower background yields improved lifetime accuracy and lifetime contrast in FLIM measurements. Fluorescence correlation measurements are free of afterpulsing peak Conventional PMT HPM-100 HPM-100 Left: Autocorrelation of continuous light signal of 10 kHz count rate, conventional GaAsP PMT. Middle: Autocorrelation of continuous light signal of 10 kHz count rate, HPM-100 module. The curve is flat down to the dead time of the TCSPC module. Right: FCS curve of fluorescein solution, HPM-100 module. The red curve is a fit with one triplet time and one diffusion time. bh DCS-120 confocal FLIM system, laser 473 nm. Dark count rate vs. temperature Typical values and range of variation Detection quantum efficiency vs. wavelength APD voltage 95% of maximum Dark count rate, 1/s 1200 Quantum Efficiency 1.0 1100 1000 900 800 0.1 700 600 500 400 0.01 300 200 100 0 10 15 20 25 30 Case temperature, °C 200 300 400 500 Wavelength 600 700 nm Specifications, typical values Wavelength Range Detector Quantum efficiency, at 500 nm Dark Count rate, Tcase = 22°C Cathode Diameter TCSPC IRF width (Transit Time Spread) Single Electron Response Width Single Electron Response Amplitude Output Polarity Output Impedance Max. Count Rate (Continuous) Overload shutdown at Detector Signal Output Connector Power Supply (from DCC-100 Card) Dimensions (width x height x depth) Optical Adapters 300 nm to 730 nm 45% 560 s-1 3 mm 120 ps, FWHM 850 ps, FWHM 50 mV, Vapd 95% of Vmax negative 50 Ω > 10 MHz >15 MHz SMA + 12 V, +5 V, -12V 60 mm x 90 mm x 170 mm C-Mount, DCS-120, LSM 710 NDD port HPM-100-50 High Speed Hybrid Detector for TCSPC GaAs cathode: Excellent detection efficiency Sensitive up to 900 nm Instrument response function 130 ps FWHM Clean response, no tails or secondary peaks No afterpulsing background Excellent dynamic range of TCSPC measurements Internal generators for PMT operating voltages Power supply and control via bh DCC-100 card Overload shutdown Direct interfacing to all bh TCSPC systems The HPM-100-50 module combines a Hamamatsu R10467-50 GaAs hybrid detector tube with the preamplifier and the generators for the tube operating voltages in one compact housing. The principle of the hybrid detector in combination with the GaAs cathode yields excellent timing resolution, a clean TCSPC instrument response function, high detection quantum efficiency up to NIR wavelengths, and extremely low afterpulsing probability. The absence of afterpulsing results in a substantially increased dynamic range of TCSPC measurements. The HPM-100-50 is therefore an excellent detector for NIR fluorescence decay measurements and time-domain diffuse optical tompgraphy. The HPM-100-50 module is operated via the bh DCC-100 detector controller of the bh TCSPC systems. The DCC-100 provides for power supply, gain control, and overload shutdown. The HPM-100 interfaces directly to all bh SPC or Simple Tau TCSPC systems. It is available with standard C-mount adapters, adapters for the bh DCS-120 confocal scanning FLIM system, and adapters for the NDD ports of the Zeiss LSM 710 NLO multiphoton laser scanning microscopes. Instrument response function. Left linear scale, right logarithmic scale. FWHM is 130 ps. Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.com email: [email protected] US Representative: Boston Electronics Corp [email protected] www.boselec.com dbhpm-50-04.doc March 2010 UK Representative: Photonic Solutions PLC [email protected] www.psplc.com HPM-100-50 Absence of afterpulsing improves dynamic range of TCSPC measurement Photon migration curves (red) and IRF (black) recorded with conventional PMT (left) and HPM-100-50 (right). The background signal of the conventional NIR PMT is dominated by afterpulsing. Late photons are lost in the background. Right: The HPM-100-50 is free of afterpulsing. The only background is the thermal emission of the photocathode. The dynamic range is substantially higher than for the conventional PMT. Dark count rate vs. temperature Typical values and range of variation Detection quantum efficiency vs. wavelength 1.0 Dark count rate, 1/s Quantum Efficiency 2600 2400 2200 0.1 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 0.01 1000 800 600 400 200 0 10 15 20 30 25 Case temperature, °C 300 400 500 600 700 Wavelength (nm) 800 Specifications, typical values Wavelength Range Detector Quantum efficiency, at 600 nm Dark Count rate, Tcase = 22°C Cathode Diameter TCSPC IRF width (Transit Time Spread) Single Electron Response Width Single Electron Response Amplitude Output Polarity Output Impedance Max. Count Rate (Continuous) Overload shutdown at Detector Signal Output Connector Power Supply (from DCC-100 Card) Dimensions (width x height x depth) Optical Adapters 400 nm to 900 nm 15 % 500 to 3000 s-1 3 mm 130 ps, FWHM 850 ps, FWHM 50 mV, Vapd 95% of Vmax negative 50 Ω > 10 MHz >15 MHz SMA + 12 V, +5 V, -12V 60 mm x 90 mm x 170 mm C-Mount, DCS-120, LSM 710 NDD port Related products: HPM-100-40 hybrid detector module, 300 to 700 nm, 45% quantum efficiency Literature: [1] The HPM-100-50 hybrid detector module: Increased dynamic range for DOT. Application note, www.becker-hickl.com [2] The HPM-100-40 hybrid detector. Application note, www.becker-hickl.com dbhpm-50-04.doc March 2010 900 Application Note The HPM-100-40 Hybrid Detector The bh HPM-100 module combines a Hamamatsu R10467-40 GaAsP hybrid PMT tube with the preamplifier and the generators for the PMT operating voltages in one compact housing. The principle of the hybrid PMT in combination with the GaAsP cathode of the R10467-40 yields excellent timing resolution, a clean TCSPC instrument response function, high detection quantum efficiency, and extremely low afterpulsing probability. The virtual absence of afterpulsing results in a substantially increased dynamic range for fluorescence decay recordings. FCS curves down to 100 ns correlation time can be obtained from a single detector, without the need of cross-correlation. The HPM-100 module is operated via the bh DCC-100 detector controller of the bh TCSPC systems. Principle The basic principle of a hybrid PMT is shown in Fig. 1. The photoelectrons emitted by a photocathode are accelerated by a strong electrical field and injected directly into a silicon avalanche diode [4, 8]. Photocathode Photoelectrons Avalanche Diode Diode Bias 200 to 300 V Output -5000 to -10,000 V Fig. 1: Principle of a hybrid PMT When an accelerated photoelectron hits the avalanche diode it generates a large number of electronhole pairs in the silicon. These carriers are further amplified by the linear gain of the avalanche diode. The principle of the hybrid PMT has a number of advantages over other detector principles. An obvious advantage of the hybrid PMT is that a large part of the gain is obtained in a single step. Hybrid PMTs therefore deliver single-photon pulses with a narrow amplitude distribution. The devices can thus be used to distinguish between one, two, or even more photons detected simultaneously [8]. In TCSPC applications the low amplitude fluctuation virtually eliminates the influence of the CFD circuitry on the timing jitter. More important for TCSPC, the high acceleration voltage between the photocathode and the APD results in low transit time spread [4]. With an acceleration voltage of 8 kV the transit-time spread of the electron time-of-flight is only 50 ps [4, 5]. Moreover, the TCSPC instrument response of a hybrid PMP is very clean, without significant tails, bumps, or secondary peaks. Compared to a conventional PMT, the hybrid PMT has also an advantage in terms of counting efficiency. In a conventional PMT, a fraction of the photoelectrons is lost on the first dynode of the hpm-appnote02 doc 1 Application Note electron multiplication system [1]. Instead of being multiplied electrons may also get absorbed or reflected. There are no such losses in the hybrid PMT: A photoelectron accelerated to an energy of 8 keV is almost certain to generate a signal in the avalanche diode. With a high-efficiency GaAsP cathode a hybrid photomultiplier reaches the efficiency of a single-photon APD (SPAD), but with a cathode area several orders of magnitude larger. The perhaps most significant advantage of the hybrid PMT has been recognised only recently: The hybrid PMT is virtually free of afterpulsing [2]. Afterpulsing is the major source of counting background in high-repetition-rate TCSPC applications, and a known problem in fluorescence correlation measurements. Background has a detrimental effect on the accuracy of fluorescence lifetime determination [6]. Afterpulsing in FCS results in a false peak at correlation times shorter than a few µs. So far, the afterpulsing peak could only be suppressed by splitting the light and recording cross-correlation between two detectors. The absence of afterpulsing in a hybrid PMT is inherent to its design principle. In conventional PMTs afterpulsing is caused by ionisation of residual gas molecules by the electron cloud in the dynode system. In single-photon avalanche photodiodes afterpulsing results from trapped carriers of the previous avalanche breakdown. Both effects do not exist in the hybrid PMT: Ionisation is negligible because only single electrons are travelling in the vacuum, and there is no avalanche breakdown in the APD. On the downside, there are also a few disadvantages of the hybrid PMT. The extremely high cathode voltage is difficult to handle. It can be a problem especially in clinical biomedical applications. The APD reverse voltage must be very stable, and be correctly adjusted. The most significant problem is the low gain of the hybrid PMTs. Earlier devices reached a gain on the order of only 104. At a gain this low, the single-photon pulse amplitude is in the µV range. Therefore electronic noise from the termination resistor and from the preamplifier impaired the time resolution of single photon detection. Until recently, hybrid PMTs were therefore not routinely used for TCSPC experiments. The situation changed with the introduction of the R10467 hybrid PMTs of Hamamatsu [5]. The devices reach a total gain on the order of 105. The single-photon pulse amplitude is on the order of several 100 µV, the pulse width about 800 ps. A high bandwidth, lownoise preamplifier is able to amplify the pulses into an amplitude range where they are detected by the constant-fraction discriminator of a bh TCSPC module. Initial tests have shown the superior performance of the R10467 compared to previously existing detectors [2]. However, in practice RF noise pickup from the environment, noise from the high voltage power supplies, and low-frequency currents flowing through ground loops make the bare R10467 tube difficult to use in TCSPC experiments. The bh HPM-100 Hybrid Detector Module To make the R10467 applicable to standard TCSPC experiments bh have integrated the R10467 tube, the power supply for the cathode voltage, the power supply for the APD voltage, and the preamplifier in a compact, carefully shielded detector module. The device is shown in Fig. 2. 2 hpm-appnote02 doc Application Note Fig. 2: bh HPM-100 hybrid PMT module. The module contains the Hamamatsu R10467 hybrid PMT tube, the generators for the cathode voltage and the APD reverse voltage, and the preamplifier. The module is operated via the DCC-100 card of the bh TCSPC systems (right) The housing has separate compartments for the voltage generators, the R10467 tube, and the preamplifier. These are shielded and decoupled against each other and the environment. The complete module is operated via the bh DCC-100 detector controller card. The DCC-100 provides for power supply, control of the APD reverse voltage, and overload shutdown. One DCC-100 card can control two HPM-100 hybrid PMT modules. Instrument response function The instrument response function of an HPM-100-40 with an R10467-40 tube is shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3: Instrument response function of the HPM-100-40. Left: linear scale. Right: Logarithmic scale. BDL-445 SMC picosecond diode laser, bh SPC-830 TCSPC module. The recorded instrument response function (IRF) width is 130 ps. Corrected for the laser pulse width of 60 ps the IRF width is about 120 ps. The response function is remarkably clean, as can be seen in the logarithmic plot on the right. It should be noted that the transit time spread and thus the IRF width of the R10467-40 is dominated by the internal time constants of its GaAsP cathode. The R10467-06 tube (with a conventional bialkali cathode) is faster, with an IRF width of about 50 ps. Afterpulsing The afterpulsing is characterised best by the autocorrelation function of the photons of a continuous light signal detected at a known count rate [1, 2]. Fig. 4 compares the autocorrelation function of an HPM-100-40 at 10 kHz count rate with that obtained by a Hamamatsu H5773-1 photosensor hpm-appnote02 doc 3 Application Note module. The autocorrelation for the HPM is flat down to the dead time of the SPC-830 module used. Comparable performance has been achieved so far only for NbN superconducting detectors. These detectors have active areas with µm extensions and need to be operated in a liquid-He cryostat [9]. Fig. 4: Autocorrelation function of a continuous light signal of 10 kHz count rate. Left: HPM-100-40. Right: H5773-1. The autocorrelation function measured with the HPM is flat down to 125 ns, indicating that no afterpulses are detected. Fig. 5 shows an FCS curve measured for a solution of fluorescein in water. The data were recorded by an HPM-100-40 connected to the bh DCS-120 confocal scanning FLIM system [3]. Because there is no afterpulsing peak diffusion and triplet times are obtained by autocorrelation of the photons detected in a single detector. Fig. 5: Fluorescence correlation function of fluorescein molecules in water. Recorded with HPM-100-40, connected to bh DCS-120 confocal scanning FLIM system The low afterpulsing results in a significantly improved dynamic range of fluorescence decay measurements. An example is shown in Fig. 6. It shows the fluorescence decay of fluorescein recorded at a laser repetition rate of 20 MHz. The signal was detected by a HPM-100-40 (left) and a H5773-1 photosensor module (right). Both detectors have approximately the same dark count rates. For the HPM-100, the dark count rate is the only source of background. Because the dark count rate is only a few 100 counts per second an extraordinarily high dynamic range is obtained. For the H5773-1 the background is dominated by afterpulsing. The background is substantially higher, and the dynamic range is far smaller than for the HPM-100. 4 hpm-appnote02 doc Application Note Fig. 6: Fluorescence decay curves for fluorescein recorded at a laser repetition rate of 20 MHz. Left: HPM-100-40. Right: H5773-01 Sensitivity We had no possibility to verify the detection quantum efficiency of the R10467-40 quantitatively. The curve of cathode quantum efficiency versus wavelength shown in Fig. 7, left, was therefore copied from the specifications of Hamamatsu [5]. What we could verify, however, is that the detection efficiency surpasses the efficiency for the Hamamatsu H7422P-40. The H7422P-40 has the same cathode type but uses a conventional PMT design. Until now, the H7422P-40 was the ultimate in sensitivity for visible-range PMTs. The HPM reaches at least the same efficiency, but at a far better time resolution and without any afterpulsing. Dark count rate, 1/s 1200 Quantum Efficiency 1.0 1100 1000 900 800 0.1 700 600 500 400 0.01 300 200 100 200 300 400 500 Wavelength 600 700 nm 0 10 15 20 25 30 Case temperature, °C Fig. 7: Left: Detection quantum efficiency according to Hamamatsu specification. Right: Dark count rate. Black curve average of 4 detectors. Yellow area: Range of variation for 7 detectors, measured over several days. For low-level light detection the limiting parameter is often not only the efficiency but also the dark count rate. Typical curves of the dark count rate versus temperature are shown in Fig. 7, right. The values we found are a bit lower than the numbers in the Hamamatsu test sheets, and significantly lower that the numbers given in [7]. The reasons are not clear. It should be noted that low dark count rates are only obtained if (a) the reverse voltage of the avalanche diode is selected below the breakdown level and (b) the tube has been kept in darkness for several hours after any exposure to daylight. hpm-appnote02 doc 5 Application Note The advantage of large active area In most applications it is difficult or even impossible to concentrate the light to be detected on an extremely small area. A typical case is multiphoton microscopy. Multiphoton microscopy is used to obtain images from image planes deep in a sample. The fluorescence photons from these layers are scattered on the way out of the sample and emerge from a large area of the sample surface. Although these photons can be transferred to a detector by ‘non-descanned detection’ they cannot be concentrated on an area smaller than a few mm in diameter [1, 2]. A similar situation can exist even in a confocal microscope. Confocal detection uses a pinhole in a plane conjugate with the image plane in the sample [3]. One would expect that the light from the pinhole is easy to focus an a small detector, such as a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD). Unfortunately, in practice this is often not the case. Normally scan heads of laser scanning microscopes have additional magnification built in so that the physical pinhole size in on the order of millimeters. Demagnifying the pinhole to the size of a SPAD by a single lens can be impossible. This is especially the case when larger pinholes, on the order of tens of Airy Units, are used. An example is shown in Fig. 8. Both lifetime images were recorded at a pinhole size of 3 Airy Units. Data recorded with the HPM-100 are shown left, data recorded with an id-100-50 SPAD right. Despite of the fact that the quantum efficiencies of the detectors do not differ substantially the image recorded with the HPM contains about twice the number of photons as the image recorded with the SPAD. Fig. 8: Fluorescence lifetime images recorded with an HPM-100 (left) and with an id-100-50 SPAD (right). Images and decay functions at selected cursor position. Controlling the HPM-100-40 The HPM-100 is operated and controlled via the DCC-100 card of the bh TCSPC systems [2]. The DCC control panel is shown in Fig. 9. For safety reasons, the DCC-100 comes up with all outputs disabled, see Fig. 9, left. Both the acceleration voltage and the reverse voltage of the avalanche diode (AD) are turned off. The panel is shown for one detector and for two detectors. Once the outputs are enabled (‘Enable’ button) and the +12V operating voltage is turned on (+12V button) the internal high-voltage generator applies the 8 kV acceleration voltage to the R10467 tube and turns on the reverse voltage of the avalanche diode. The +5V and the -5V must also be turned on, they are used in the preamplifier. The AD reverse voltage is controlled via the ‘Gain’ sliders. 6 hpm-appnote02 doc Application Note Fig. 9: DCC-100 control panel, for one detector and for two detectors. Left: After software start, the detectors are disabled. Right: Detectors enabled. The ‘Gain’ sliders control the AD voltages. The correct selection of the operating parameters is critical to the operation of the HPM. The recommended CFD threshold of the SPC module is -30 mV. The AD reverse voltage must be selected to operate the AD close to the maximum stable gain, but not in the breakdown region. The selection of the AD voltage is demonstrated in Fig. 10. The gain of the AD increases steeply with the voltage, see Fig. 10, left. Consequently, photon counting is obtained in a relatively narrow interval of the reverse voltage, or DCC ‘Gain’. The gain-voltage characteristics vary for different detectors. Different detectors therefore need different values of the DCC gain. The correct DCC gain can easily be found by slowly increasing the DCC gain and observing the count rate displayed by the TCSPC module. Typical curves of the count rate versus DCC Gain are shown in Fig. 10, right. At low DCC gain no counts are obtained. At a specific DCC gain the count rate rises steeply. Then it remains almost constant over an interval of 5 to 10 % of DCC Gain. Beyound this interval the count rate rises steeply. The APD is driven in the breakdown region, the APD current becomes unstable, and eventually the DCC-100 shuts the HPM-100 down. The correct operating point is in the middle of the flat part of the curve, as indicated in Fig. 10, right. AD Gain Instability Count rate 10 6 Photon counting range Gain too low 0 AD reverse voltage 50 60 70 80 90 100% DCC 'Gain' Fig. 10: Left: General dependence of the AD gain on the AD reverse voltage. Right: Dependence of the count rate on the DCC Gain for different detectors. The correct operating point is in the flat part of the curve. If the AD current becomes too high, either because the ‘Gain’ was pulled too far up or the light intensity is too high, the DCC-100 shuts down the HPM-100. The acceleration voltage is turned off, and the APD reverse voltage is reduced down to zero. This brings the detector in a safe state. After the reason of the overload has been removed, the detector can be brought back to operation by clicking on the ‘Reset’ button. The DCC-100 panel in the overload state is shown in Fig. 11. hpm-appnote02 doc 7 Application Note Fig. 11: DCC-100 panel after overload shutdown. Left one detector. Right: Two detectors, both detectors shut down. Summary With the bh HPM-100 module, there is, for the first time, a detector that combines high speed, clean response, high efficiency, large active area, absence of afterpulsing, and ease of use. Combined with the bh TCSPC systems, it detects fluorescence decay functions with unprecedented dynamic range, has the sensitivity to efficiently acquire FCS data, and delivers FCS without the need of crosscorrelation. The main area of application of the HPM-100 is time-resolved microscopy which demands for exactly the combination of parameters the HPM-100 provides. However, the HPM-100 may be used for any TCSPC experiments that require high precision, high sensitivity, and wide dynamic range. References 1. W. Becker, Advanced time-correlated single-photon counting techniques. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 2005 2. W. Becker, The bh TCSPC handbook. 3rd edition, Becker & Hickl GmbH (2008), available on www.beckerhickl.com 3. Becker & Hickl GmbH, DCS-120 Confocal Scanning FLIM Systems, user handbook. www.becker-hickl.com 4. A. Fukasawa, J. Haba, A. Kageyama, H. Nakazawa and M. Suyama, High Speed HPD for Photon Counting, 2006 Nuclear Science Symposium, Medical Imaging Conference, San Diego, CA (2006) 5. Hamamatsu Photonics, R10467 hybrid PMTs, data sheet. 6. M. Köllner, J. Wolfrum, How many photons are necessary for fluorescence-lifetime measurements?, Phys. Chem. Lett. 200, 199-204 (1992) 7. X. Michalet, A. Cheng, J. Antelman, Motohiro Suyama, Katsuhiro Arisaka, Shimon Weiss, Hybrid photodetector for single-molecule spectroscopy and microscopy. Proc. SPIE 6862 (2007) 8. R.A. La Rue, K.A. Costello, G.A. Davis, J.P. Edgecumbe, V.W. Aebi, Photon Counting III-V Hybrid Photomultipliers Using Transmission Mode Photocathodes. IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices 44, 672-678 (1997) 9. M. Stevens, R.H. Hadfield, R.E. Schwall, S.W. Nam, R.P. Mirin, Time-correlated single-photon counting with superconducting detectors. Proc. of SPIE 6372, 63720U-1 to -10 8 hpm-appnote02 doc Detectors for High-Speed Photon Counting Wolfgang Becker, Axel Bergmann Becker & Hickl GmbH, Berlin, [email protected], [email protected] Detectors for photon counting must have sufficient gain to deliver a useful output pulse for a single detected photon. The output pulse must be short enough to resolve the individual photons at high count rate, and the transit time jitter in the detector should be small to achieve a good time resolution. A wide variety of commercially available photomultipliers and a few avalanche photodiode detectors meet these general requirements. We discuss the applicability of different detectors to time-correlated photon counting (TCSPC), steady-state photon counting, multichannel-scaling, and fluorescence correlation measurements (FCS). Photon Counting Techniques In a detector with a gain of the order of 106 to 108 and a pulse response width of the order of 1 ns each detected photon yields an output current pulse of some mA peak amplitude. The output signal for a low level signal is then a train of random pulses the density of which represents the light intensity. Therefore, counting the detector pulses within defined time intervals - i.e. photon counting - is the most efficient way to record the light intensity with a high gain detector [1]. Steady State Photon Counting Simple intensity measurement of slow signals can easily be accomplished by a high-gain detector, a discriminator, and a counter that is read in equidistant time intervals. Simple photon counting heads that are connected to a PC via an RS232 interface can be used to collect light signals with photon rates up to a few 106 / s within time intervals from a few ms to minutes or hours. Gated Photon Counting Gated Photon Counters use a fast gate in front of the counter. The gate is used to count the photons only within defined, usually short time intervals. Gating in conjunction with pulsed light sources can be used to reduce the effective background count rate or to distinguish between different signal components [2,3]. Several parallel counters with different gates can be used to obtain information about the fluorescence lifetime. This technique is used for lifetime imaging in conjunction with laser scanning microscopes [4,5]. The count rate within the short gating interval can be very high, therefore gated photon counters can have maximum count rates of 800 MHz [2]. Multichannel Scalers Multichannel scalers - or ‘multiscalers’ count the photons within subsequent time intervals and store the results in subsequent memory locations of a fast data memory. The general principle is shown in fig. 1. Each sequence - or sweep - is started by a trigger pulse. Therefore the waveform of repetitive signals can be accumulated over many signal periods. Two versions of multiscalers with different accumulation technique exist. The photons can either be directly counted and accumulated in a large and fast data memory, or the Photon pulses from detector Period 1 Period 2 direct accumulation in high speed memory Result Fig. 1: Multichannel Scaler 1 detection times of the individual photons are stored in a FIFO memory and the waveform is reconstructed when the measurement is finished. The direct accumulation achieves higher continuous count rates and higher sweep rates, with the FIFO principle it is easier to obtain a short time channel width. Multiscalers for direct accumulation are available with 1ns channel width and 1 GHz continuous count rates [6]. Multiscalers with FIFO principle are available for 500 ps channel width [7]. Unfortunately this is not fast enough for the measurements of fluorescence lifetimes of most organic dyes. However, multiscalers can be an excellent solution for phosphorescence, delayed fluorescence, and luminescence lifetime measurements of inorganic samples. Furthermore, multiscalers are used for LIDAR applications. The benefits of the multiscaler technique are - Multiscalers have a near-perfect counting efficiency and therefore achieve optimum signalto-noise ratio for a given number of detected photons - Multiscalers are able to record several photons per signal period - Multiscalers can exploit extremely high detector count rates - Multiscalers cover extremely long time intervals with high resolution in one sweep Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting - or TCSPC - is based on the detection of single photons of a periodical light signal, the measurement of the detection times of the individual photons and the reconstruction of the waveform from the individual time measurements [8,9]. The method makes use of the fact that for low level, high repetition rate signals the light intensity is usually so low that the probability to detect one photon in one signal period is much less than one. Therefore, the detection of several photons can be neglected and the principle shown in fig. 2 right be used: The detector signal consists of a train of randomly distributed pulses due to the detection of the individual photons. There are many signal periods without photons, other signal periods contain one photon pulse. Periods with more than one photons are very unlikely. Original Waveform Detector Signal: Time Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Period 4 Period 5 Period 6 Period 7 Period 8 Period 9 Period 10 Period N Result When a photon is detected, the time of the after many Photons corresponding detector pulse is measured. The events are collected in a memory by adding a ‘1’ in a memory location with an address proportional to the detection time. After many Fig. 2: Principle of the TCSPC technique photons, in the memory the histogram of the detection times, i.e. the waveform of the optical pulse builds up. Although this principle looks complicated at first glance, it has a number of striking benefits: - The time resolution of TCSPC is limited by the transit time spread, not by the width of the output pulse of the detector. With fast MCP PMTs an instrument response width of less than 30 ps is achieved [14,27]. 2 - TCSPC has a near-perfect counting efficiency and therefore achieves optimum signal-tonoise ratio for a given number of detected photons [10,11] - TCSPC is able to record the signals from several detectors simultaneously [9,12-15] - TCSPC can be combined with a fast scanning technique and therefore be used as a high resolution, high efficiency lifetime imaging (FLIM) technique in confocal and two-photon laser scanning microscopes [9,15,16,18 ] - TCSPC is able to acquire fluorescence lifetime and fluorescence correlation data simultaneously [9,17] - State-of-the-art TCSPC devices achieve count rates in the MHz range and acquisition times down to a few milliseconds [9, 18] Multi-Detector TCSPC TCSPC multi-detector operation makes use of the fact that the simultaneous detection of photons in several detector channels is unlikely. Therefore, the single photon pulses from several detector channels - either individual detectors or the anodes of a multianode PMT - can be combined in a common timing pulse line. If a photon is detected in one of the channels the pulse is sent through the normal time-measurement circuitry of a single TCSPC channel. In the meantime an array of discriminators connected to the detector outputs generates a data word that indicates in which of the channels the photon was detected. This information is used to store the photons of the individual detector channels in separate blocks of the data memory [9,12-15] (fig. 3). Optical Waveforms Detector 2 Detector 1 Time Detector Signal: Period 1 Period 2 'channel 1' Period 3 Period 4 Period 5 'channel 2' 'channel 2' Period 6 Period 7 Period 8 Period 9 'channel 1' Period 10 Period N 'channel 2' Result Detector 1 Result Detector 2 Multi-detector TCSPC can be used to simultaneously obtain time- and wavelength Fig. 3: Multi-detector TCSPC resolution [15], or to record photons from different locations of a sample [14]. It should be noted that multi-detector TCSPC does not involve any multiplexing or scanning process. Therefore the counting efficiency for each detector channel is still close to one, which means that the efficiency of a multi-detector TCSPC system can be considerably higher of single channel TCSPC device. 3 Photon Counting for Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) exploits intensity fluctuations in the emission of a small number of chromophore molecules in a femtoliter sample volume [19,20]. The fluorescence correlation spectrum is the autocorrelation function of the intensity fluctuation. FCS yields information about diffusion processes, conformational changes of chromophore protein complexes and intramolecular dynamics. Fluorescence correlation spectra can be obtained directly by hardware correlators or by recording the detection times of the individual photons and calculating the FCS curves by software. The second technique can be combined with TCSPC to obtain FCS and lifetime data simultaneously. Moreover, the multidetector capability of TCSPC can be used to detect photons in different wavelength intervals or of different polarisation simultaneously [17,21]. ps time from TAC / ADC Laser Detector Channel Laser Photon micro time macro time resolution 25 ps FIFO Buffer time from start of experiment Start of experiment Photons resolution 50 ns micro time Det. No macro time micro time Det. No macro time . . . . . . micro time Det. No macro time micro time Det. No macro time Readout Histogram of micro time Hard disk Autocorrelation of macro time Fluorescence decay curves Fluorescence correlation spectra picoseconds ns to seconds The data structure for combined lifetime / FCS data acquisition in the an SPC-830 module [9] is shown in Fig. 4: Simultaneous FCS / lifetime data acquisition fig. 4. For each detector an individual correlation spectrum and a fluorescence decay curve can be calculated. If several detectors are used to record the photons from different chromophores, the signals of these chromophores can be cross-correlated. The fluorescence cross-correlation spectrum shows whether the molecules of both chromophores and the associated protein structures are linked or diffuse independently. Detector Principles The most common detectors for low level detection of light are photomultiplier tubes. A conventional photomultiplier tube (PMT) is a vacuum device which contains a photocathode, a number of dynodes (amplifying stages) and an anode which delivers the output signal [1,22]. D2 PhotoCathode D1 D3 D4 D6 D5 D7 D8 Anode Fig 5 Conventional PMT The operating voltage builds up an electrical field that accelerates the electrons from the cathode to the first dynode D1, further to the next dynodes, and from D8 to the anode. When a photoelectron emitted by the photocathode hits D1 it releases several secondary electrons. The same happens for the electrons emitted by D1 when they hit D2. The overall gain reaches values of 106 to 108. The secondary emission at the dynodes is very fast, therefore the secondary electrons resulting from one photoelectron arrive at the anode within a few ns or less. Due to the high gain and the short response a single photoelectron yields a easily detectable current pulse at the anode. A wide variety of dynode geometries has been developed [1]. Of special interest for photon counting are the ‘linear focused’ type dynodes which yield a fast single electron response, and the ‘fine mesh’ and ‘metal channel’ type which offer position-sensitivity when used with an array of anodes. 4 A similar gain effect as in the conventional PMTs is achieved in the Channel PMT (fig 6) and in the Microchannel PMT (Fig. 7, MCP). These detectors use channels with a conductive coating the walls of which work as secondary emission targets [1]. Microchannel PMTs are the fastest photon counting detectors currently available. Moreover, the microchannel plate technique allows to build position-sensitive detectors and image intensifiers. To obtain position sensitivity, the single anode can be replaced with an array of individual anode elements (fig. 8). By individually detecting the pulses from the anode elements the position of the corresponding photon on the photocathode can be determined. Multianode PMTs are particularly interesting in conjunction with time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) because this technique is able to process the photon pulses from several detector channels in only one time-measurement channel [9,12-15]. -HV Anode Cathode Fig. 6 Channel PMT Channel Plate Channel Plate Anode Electrical Field Cathode Fig. 7 Microchannel PMT Microchannel plates or fine-mesh dynodes A1 A2 Cathode The gain systems used in photomultipliers can also be used to detect electrons or ions. These ‘Electron Multipliers’ are operated in the vacuum, and the particles are fed directly into the dynode system, the multiplier channel or onto the multichannel plate (fig. 9). Cooled avalanche photodiodes can be used to detect single optical photons if they are operated close to or slightly above the breakdown voltage [23-26] (fig. 10). The generated electron-hole pairs initiate an avalanche breakdown in the diode. Active or passive quenching circuits must be used to restore normal operation after each photon. Single-photon avalanche photodiodes (SPADs) have a high quantum efficiency in the visible and near-infrared range. Photo Electron Electrons to Anode A3 Array of A4 Anodes A5 Fig. 8 Multianode PMT Channel Plate Channel Plate Electrons Anode or Ions Electron Electrons to Anode Electrical Field Fig 9 Electron Multiplier with MCP Quenching Circuit 200V Photon X ray photons can be detected by PIN diodes. A single Avalanche Output high energy X ray photon generates so many electronhole pairs in the diode so that the resulting charge Fig 10: Single Photon Avalanche Photodiode (SPAD) pulse can be detected by an ultra-sensitive charge amplifier. However, due to the limited speed of the amplifier these detectors have a time resolution in the us range and do not reach high count rates. They can, however, distinguish photons of different energy by the amount of charge generated. Detector Parameters Single Electron Response The output pulse of a detector for a single photoelectron is called the ‘Single Electron Response’ or ‘SER’. Some typical SER shapes for PMTs are shown in fig. 11. 5 Iout 1ns/div Standard PMT 1ns/div Fast PMT (R5600, H5783) 1ns/div MCP-PMT Fig. 11: Single electron response (SER) of different photomultipliers Due to the random nature of the detector gain, the pulse amplitude varies from pulse to pulse. The pulse height distribution can be very broad, up to 1:5 to 1:10. Fig. 12 shows the SER pulses of an R5600 PMT recorded by a 400 MHz oscilloscope. The following considerations are made with G being the average gain, and ISER being the average peak current of the SER pulses. The peak current of the SER is approximately . ISER = G e ----------FWHM . -19 ( G = PMT Gain, e=1.6 10 As, FWHM= SER pulse width, full width at half maximum) The table below shows some typical values. ISER is the average Fig. 12: Amplitude jitter of SER pulses SER peak current and VSER the average SER peak voltage when the output is terminated with 50 Ω. Imax is the maximum permitted continuous output current of the PMT. PMT Standard Fast PMT MCP PMT PMT Gain 107 107 106 FWHM 5 ns 1.5 ns 0.36 ns ISER 0.32 mA 1 mA 0.5mA VSER (50 Ω) 16 mV 50 mV 25 mV Imax (cont) 100uA 100uA 0.1uA There is one significant conclusion from this table: If the PMT is operated near its full gain the peak current ISER from a single photon is much greater than the maximum continuous output current. Consequently, for steady state operation the PMT delivers a train of random pulses rather than a continuous signal. Because each pulse represents the detection of an individual photon the pulse density - not the pulse amplitude - is a measure of the light intensity at the cathode of the PMT [1,2,3,6]. Obviously, the pulse density is measured best by counting the PMT pulses within subsequent time intervals. Therefore, photon counting is a logical consequence of the high gain and the high speed of photomultipliers. 6 Transit Time Spread and Timing Jitter The delay between the absorption of a photon at the photocathode and the output pulse from the anode of a PMT varies from photon to photon. The effect is called ‘transit time spread’, or TTS. There are tree major TTS components in conventional PMTs and MCP PMTs - the emission at the photocathode, the multiplication process in the dynode system or microchannel plate, and the timing jitter of the subsequent electronics. The time constant of the photoelectron emission at a traditional photocathodes is small compared to the 2nd. Dynode other TTS components and usually does not noticeably contribute to the transit time spread. Electron However, high efficiency semiconductor-type Photons Trajecories photocathodes (GaAs, GaAsP, InGaAs) are much slower and can introduce a transit time spread of the 1st. Dynode Photoorder of 100 to 150 ps. Moreover, photoelectrons are cathode Focusing Electrode emitted at the photocathode of a photomultiplier at random locations, with random velocities and in random directions. Therefore, the time they need to Fig. 13: Different electron trajectories cause reach the first dynode or the channel plate is slightly different transit times in a PMT different for each photoelectron (fig. 13). Since the average initial velocity of a photoelectron increases with decreasing wavelength of the absorbed photon the transit-time spread is wavelength-dependent. As the photoelectrons at the cathode, the secondary electrons emitted at the first dynodes of a PMT or in the channel plate of and MCP PMT have a wide range of start velocities and start in any direction. The variable time they need to reach the next dynode adds to the transit time spread of the PMT. Another source of timing uncertainty is the timing jitter in the discriminator at the input of a photon counter. The amplitude of the single electron pulses at the output of a PMT varies, which causes a variable delay in the trigger circuitry. Although timing jitter due to amplitude fluctuations can be minimised by constant fraction discriminators it cannot be absolutely avoided. Electronic timing jitter is not actually a property of the detector, but usually cannot be distinguished from the detector TTS. TTS does exist also in single-photon avalanche photodiodes. The reason of TTS in SPADs is the different depth in which the photons are absorbed. This results in different conditions for the build-up of the carrier avalanche and in different avalanche transit times. Consequently the TTS depends on the wavelength. Moreover, if a passive quenching circuit is used, the reverse voltage may not have completely recovered from the breakdown of the previous photon. The result is an increase or shift of the TTS with the count rate. The TTS of a PMT is usually much shorter that the SER pulse width. In linear applications where the time resolution is limited by the SER pulse width the TTS is not important. The resolution of photon counting, however, is not limited by the SER pulse width. Therefore, the TTS is the limiting parameter for the time resolution of photon counting. Cathode Efficiency The efficiency, i.e. the probability that a particular photon causes a pulse at the output of the PMT, depends on the efficiency of the photocathode. Unfortunately the sensitivity S of a 7 photocathode is usually not given in units of quantum efficiency but in mA of photocurrent per Watt incident power. The quantum efficiency QE is hc S QE = S ---- = ---λ eλ 1.24 106 Wm ---A The efficiency for the commonly used photocathodes is shown in fig. 14. The QE of the conventional bialkali and multialkali cathodes reaches 20 to 25 % between 400 and 500 nm. The recently developed GaAsP cathode reaches 45 %. The GaAs cathode has an improved red sensitivity and is a good replacement for the multialkali cathode above 600 nm. Sensitivity 1000 mA/W QE=0.5 GaAsP 100 GaAs QE=0.2 QE=0.1 bialkali multialkali 10 Generally, there is no significant difference between the efficiency of similar photocathodes in different PMTs 1 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 and from different manufacturers. The nm Wavelength differences are of the same order as the Fig. 14: Sensitivity of different photocathodes [1] variation between different tube of the same type. Reflection type cathodes are a bit more efficient than transmission type photocathodes. However, reflection type photocathodes have non-uniform photoelectron transit times to the dynode system and therefore cannot be used in ultra-fast PMTs. A good overview about the characteristics of PMTs is given in [1]. Efficiency The typical efficiency of the Perkin Elmer SPCM-AQR single photon avalanche photodiode (SPAD) modules is shown in the figure right (after [24]). The wavelength dependence follows the typical curve of a silicon photodiode and reaches more than 70% at 700nm. However, the active area of the SPCM-AQR is only 0.18 mm wide, and diodes with much smaller areas have been manufactured [23]. Therefore the high efficiency of an SPAPD can only be exploited if the light can be concentrated to such a small area. 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 nm wavelength Fig. 15: Quantum efficiency vs. wavelength for SPAD. Perkin-Elmer SPCM-AQR module [24] Pulse Height Distribution The single photon pulses obtained from PMTs and MCPs have a considerable amplitude jitter. A typical pulse amplitude distribution of a PMT is shown in fig. 16. The amplitude spectrum shows a more or less pronounced peak for the photon pulses and a continuous increase of the background at low amplitudes. The background originates from thermal emission of electrons in the dynode systems, from noise of preamplifiers, and from noise pickup from the environment. The amplitude of the single photon pulses can vary by a factor of 10 and more. 8 Probability Discriminator Threshold Typical PMT pulse amplitude distribution Signal Pulses Background Discriminator Threshold Pulse Amplitude Fig 16: Pulse height distribution of a PMT and discriminator threshold for optimum counting performance In good PMTs and MCPs the single photon pulse amplitudes should be clearly distinguished from the background noise. Then, by appropriate setting the discriminator threshold of the photon counter, the background can be effectively suppressed. If the photon pulses and the background are not clearly distinguished either the background cannot be efficiently suppresses or a large fraction of the photon pulses is lost. Therefore, next to a high QE of the cathode, a good pulse height distribution is essential to get a high counting efficiency. The pulse height distribution has also noticeable influence on the time resolution obtained in TCSPC applications. Of course, a low timing jitter can only be achieved if the amplitude of single photon pulses is clearly above the background noise level. The pulse height distribution of the same PMT type can differ considerably for different cathode versions. The bialkali versions are usually the best, multialkali is mediocre and extended multialkali (S25) can be disastrous. The reason might be that during the cathode formation cathode material is spilled into the dynode system or that the cathode material is also used for coating the dynodes. Dark Count Rate The dark count rate of a PMT depends on the cathode type, the cathode area, and the temperature. The dark count rate is highest for cathodes with high sensitivity at long wavelengths. Depending on the cathode type, there is an increase of a factor of 3 to 10 for a 10 °C increase in temperature. Therefore, additional heating, i.e. by the voltage divider resistors, amplifiers connected to the Fig.17: Decrease of dark count rate (counts per second) of a H5773P-01 after output, or by the coils of shutters exposing the cathode to room light. The device was cooled to 5°C. The peaks should be avoided. The most are caused by scintillation effects. efficient way to keep the dark count rate low is thermoelectric cooling. Exposing the cathode of a switched-off PMT to daylight increases the dark count rate considerably. For the traditional cathodes the effect is reversible, but full recovery takes several hours, see fig. 17. Semiconductor cathodes should not be exposed to full daylight at all. 9 After extreme overload, e.g. daylight on the cathode of an operating PMT, the dark count rate is permanently increased by several orders of magnitude. The tube is then damaged and does not recover. Many PMTs produce random single pulses of extremely high amplitude or bursts of pulses with extremely high count rate. Such bursts are responsible for the peaks in fig. 17. The pulses can originate from scintillation effects by radioactive decay in the vicinity of the tube, in the tube structure itself, by cosmic ray particles or from tiny electrical discharges in the cathode region. Therefore not only the tube, but also the materials in the cathode region must be suspected to be the source of the effect. Generally, there should be some mm clearance around the cathode region of the tube. Afterpulses Most detectors have an increased probability to produce a dark count pulse in a time interval of some 100 ns to some µs after the detection of a photon. Afterpulses can be caused by ion feedback, or by luminescence of the dynode material and the glass of the tube. They are detectable in almost any conventional PMT. Afterpulsing of an R5600 tube is shown in fig. 18. Fig. 18: Afterpulsing in an R5600 PMT tube. TCSPC measurement with Becker & Hickl SPC-630. The peak is the laser pulse, afterpulses cause a bump 200 ns later Afterpulsing can be a problem in high repetition rate TCSPC applications, particularly with titanium-sapphire lasers or diode lasers, and in fluorescence correlation experiments. At high repetition rate the afterpulses from many signal periods accumulate and cause an appreciable signal-dependent background. Correlation spectra can be severely distorted by afterpulsing. Afterpulsing shows up most clearly in histograms of the time differences between subsequent photons or in correlation spectra. For classic light, i.e. from an incandescent lamp, the histogram of the time differences drops exponentially with the time difference. Any deviation from the exponential drop indicates correlation between the detection events, i.e. nonideal behaviour of the detector. Afterpulses show up as a peak centred at the average time difference of primary pulses and afterpulses. A correlation spectrum is the autocorrelation function of the photon density versus time. Classic light delivers a constant background of random coincidences of the detection events. As in the histogram of time differences, afterpulses show up as a peak centred at the average time difference of primary pulses and afterpulses. Typical curves for a traditional R932 PMT are shown in fig. 19. 10 Fig. 19: Histogram of times between photons (top) and correlation spectrum (bottom) for classic light. The peak at short times is due to afterpulsing. Photon Counting Performance of Selected Detectors R3809U MCP-PMT The TCSPC system response for a Hamamatsu R3809U-50 MCP [27] is shown in fig. 20. The MCP was illuminated with a femtosecond Ti:Sa laser, the response was measured with an SPC-630 TCSPC module. A HFAC-26-01 preamplifier was used in front of the SPC-630 CFD input. At an operating voltage of -3 kV the FWHM (full width at half maximum) of the response is 28 ps. Fig. 20: R38909U, TCSPC instrument response. Operating voltage-3kV, preamplifier gain 20dB, discriminator threshold - 80mV The response has a shoulder of some 400 ps duration and about 1% of the peak amplitude. This shoulder seems to be a general property of all MCPs and appears in all of these devices. The width of the response can be reduced to 25 ps by increasing the operating voltage to the maximum permitted value of -3.4 kV. However, for most applications this is not recommended for the following reason: Threshold mV 2 100 Count Rate MHz 90 1.5 80 70 60 1 50 40 0.5 30 20 As all MCP-PMTs, the R3809U allows only a very 10 small maximum output current. This sets a limit to 0 2750 2800 2850 2900 2950 3000 3050 MCP Supply Voltage, V the maximum count rate that can be obtained from the device. The maximum count rate depends on the Fig. 21: R3809U, count rate for 100 nA anode MCP gain, i.e. of the supply voltage. The count rate current and optimum discriminator threshold vs. for the maximum output current of 100 nA as a supply voltage. HFAC-26-01 (20dB) preamplifier function of the supply voltage is shown in fig. 21. To keep the counting efficiency constant the CFD threshold was adjusted to get a constant count rate at a reference intensity that gave 20,000 counts per second. Fig. 21 shows that count rates in excess of 2 MHz can be reached. The R3809U tubes have a relatively good SER pulse height distribution which seems to be independent of the cathode type - possibly a result of the independent manufacturing of the channel plate and the cathode. Therefore a good counting efficiency can be achieved. 11 Fig. 22 shows the histogram of the time intervals between the recorded photons. The count rate was about 10,000 photons per second, the data were obtained with an SPC-830 in the ‘FIFO’ mode. Interestingly, the R3809U is free of afterpulsing. Due to the short TCSPC response and the absence of afterpulses the R3809U is an ideal detector for TCSPC fluorescence lifetime measurements, for TCSPC lifetime imaging, and for combined Fig. 22: R3809U, histogram of times between lifetime / FCS or other correlation experiments. photons. No afterpulses are detected. Recently Hamamatsu announced the R3809U MCP with GaAs, GaAsP, and infrared cathodes for up to 1700 nm. Although these MCPs are not as fast as the versions with conventional cathodes they might be the ultimate detectors for combined FCS / lifetime experiments. The flipside is that MCPs are expensive and can easily be damaged by overload. Therefore the R3809U should be operated with a preamplifier that monitors the output current. If overload conditions are to be expected, i.e. by the halogen or mercury lamp of a scanning microscope, electronically driven shutters should be used and high voltage shutdown should be accomplished to protect the detector. H7422 The H7422 incorporates a GaAs or GaAsP cathode PMT, a thermoelectric cooler, and the high voltage power supply [28]. Hamamatsu delivers a small OEM power supply to drive the cooler. However, we could not use this power supply because it generated so much noise that photon counting with the H7422 was not possible. Furthermore, we found that the H7422 shuts down if the gain control voltage is changed faster that about 0.1V / s. Apparently fast changes activate an internal overload shutdown. Unfortunately the device can only be reanimated by cycling the +12 V power supply. Therefore we use the Becker & Hickl DCC-100 detector controller. It drives the cooler and supplies the +12 V and a software-controlled gain control voltage to the H7422. Furthermore, the DCC in conjunction with a HFAC-26-1 preamplifier can be connected to shut down the gain of the H7422 on overload. If the H7422 shuts down internally for any reason, cycling the +12 V is only a mouse click into the DCC-100 operating panel. The TCSPC system response of an H7422-40 is shown in Fig. 23. Fig. 23: H7422-40, TCSPC Instrument response function. Gain control voltage 0.9V (maximum gain), preamplifier 20dB, discriminator threshold -200mV, -300mV, -400mV and -500mV 12 The FWHM of the system response is about 300 ps. There is a weak secondary peak about 2.5 ns after the main peak, and a peak prior to the main peak can appear at low discriminator thresholds. The width of the response does not depend appreciably of the discriminator threshold. This is an indication that the response is limited by the intrinsic speed of the semiconductor photocathode. The afterpulsing probability of the H7422-40 can be seen from the histogram of the time intervals of the photon (fig. 24). For maximum gain the afterpulse probability in the first 1.5 µs is very high (fig. 24, red curve, control voltage 0.9V). If the gain is reduced the afterpulse probability decreases considerably (fig. 24, blue curve, 0.63V). The timing resolution does not decrease appreciably at the reduced gain, fig. 25. Fig. 24: H7422-40, histogram of times between photons. Gain control voltage 0.9V (red) and 0.63V (blue). Afterpulse probability increases with gain. Fig. 25, H7422-40, TCSPC Instrument response function. Gain control voltage 0.63V, preamplifier 20dB, discriminator threshold -30mV, -50mV, -70mV The H7422 is a good detector for TCSPC applications when sensitivity has a higher priority than time resolution. A typical application is TCSPC imaging with laser scanning microscopes [18,29]. The high quantum efficiency helps to reduce photobleaching which is the biggest enemy of lifetime imaging in scanning microscopes. The H7422 can also be used to investigate diffusion processes in cells or conformational changes of dye / protein complexes by combined FCS / lifetime spectroscopy. Although the accuracy in the time range below 1.5 µs is impaired by afterpulsing, processes at longer time scales can be efficiently recorded. Another application of the H7422 is optical tomography with pulses NIR lasers. Because the measurements are run in-vivo it is essential to acquire a large number of photons in a short measurement time. Particularly in the wavelength range above 800 nm the efficiency of H7422-50 and -60 yields a considerable improvement compared to PMTs with conventional cathodes. H7421 The Hamamatsu H7421 is similar to the H7422 in that it contains a GaAs or GaAsP cathode PMT, a thermoelectric cooler, and the high voltage power supply. However, the output of the PMT is connected to a discriminator that delivers TTL pulses. The output of the PMT is not directly available, and the PMT gain and the discriminator threshold cannot be changed. The module is therefore easy to use. However, because the discriminator is not of the constant fraction type, the TCSPC timing performance is by far not as good as for the H7422, see figure 26. 13 Fig. 26: H7422-50, TCSPC response function for a count rate of 30 kHz (blue) and 600 kHz (red) The FWHM is only 600 ps. Moreover, it increases for count rates above some 100 kHz. Interestingly no such count rate dependence was found for the H7422. Obviously the H7422 is a better solution if high time resolution and high peak count rate is an issue. H5783 and H5773 Photosensor Modules, PMH-100 The H5783 and H5773 photosensor modules contain a small (TO9 size) PMT and the high voltage power supply [30]. They come in different cathode and window versions. A ‘P’ version selected for good pulse height distribution is available for the bialkali and multialkali tubes. The typical TCSPC response of a H5773P-0 is shown in fig. 27. The device was tested with a 650 nm diode laser of 80 ps pulse width. A HFAC-26-10 preamplifier was used, and the response was recorded with an SPC-730 TCSPC module. The response function has a pre-peak about 1 ns before the main peak and an secondary peak 2 ns after. The pre-peak is caused by low amplitude pulses, probably from photoemission at the first dynode. It can be suppressed by properly adjusting the discriminator threshold. The secondary peak is independent of the discriminator threshold. Fig: 27: H5773P-0, TCSPC instrument response. Maximum gain, preamplifier gain 20dB, discriminator threshold -100mV, -300mV and -500mV The Becker & Hickl PMH-100 module contains a H5773P module, a 20 dB preamplifier, and an overload indicator. The response is the same as for the H5773P and a HFAC-26 amplifier. However, because the PMT and the preamplifier are in the same housing, the PMH-100 has a superior noise immunity. This results in an exceptionally low differential nonlinearity in TCSPC measurements. 14 A histogram of the times between the photon pulses for the H5773 is shown in fig. 28. The devices show relatively strong afterpulsing, particularly the multialkali (-1) tubes. Dark Counts 900 1/s 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 10 Fig. 28: Histogram of times between photons for H5773P-0 (blue) and H5773P-1 (red). The afterpulse probability is higher for the -1 version 15 20 25 30°C Temperature Fig. 29: Dark count rate for different H5773P-01 modules Fig. 29 shows the dark count rate for different H5773P-1 modules as a function of ambient temperature. Taking into regards the small cathode area of the devices the dark count rates are relatively high. Selected devices with lower dark count rate are available. The H5783, the H5773 and particularly the PMH-100 are easy to use, rugged and fast detectors that can be used for TCSPC, multiscalers and gated photon counting as well. In multiscaler applications the detectors reach peak count rates of more that 150 MHz for a few 100 ns. The detectors are not suitable for FCS or similar correlation experiments on the time scale below 1 us. R7400 and R5600 TO-8 PMTs The R7400 and the older R5600 are bare tubes similar to that used in the H5783 and H5773. There is actually no reason to use the bare tubes instead of the complete photosensor module. However, for the bare tube the voltage divider can be optimised for smaller TTS or improved linearity at high count rate. The TTS width decreases with the square root of the voltage between the cathode and the first dynode. It is unknown how far the voltage can be increased without damage. A test tube worked stable at 1 kV overall voltage with a three-fold increase of the cathode-dynode voltage. The decrease of the response width is shown in fig. 30. Fig. 30: R5900P-1, -1kV supply voltage: TCSPC response for different voltage between cathode and first dynode. Blue, green and red: 1, 2 and 3 times nominal voltage Fig. 31: H5773P-1, -1kV : Histogram of times between photons. The afterpulse probability is the same as for the H5783 and H5773 photosensor modules (fig. 31). 15 It is questionable whether the benefit of a slightly shorter response compensates for the inconvenience of building a voltage divider and using a high voltage power supply. However, if a large number of tubes has to be used, i.e. in an optical tomography setup, using the R5600 or R7400 can be reasonable. R5900-L16 Multichannel PMT and PML-16 Multichannel Detector Head The Hamamatsu R5900-L16 is a multi-anode PMT with 16 channels in a linear arrangement. In conjunction with a polychromator the detector can be used for multi-wavelength detection. If the R5900-L16 is used with steady-state and gated photon counters or with multiscalers 16 parallel recording channels, e.g. two parallel Becker & Hickl PMM-328 modules are required. For TCSPC application the multi-detector technique described in [9] and [12-15] can be used. TCSPC multi-detector operation is achieved by combining the photon pulses of all detector channels into one common timing pulse line and generating a ‘channel’ signal which indicates in which of the PMT channels a photon was detected. The Becker & Hickl PML-16 detector head [13] contains the R5900-L16 tube and all the required electronics. The R5900-L16 has also been used with a separate routing device [12,31]. However, in a setup like this noise pick-up from the environment and noise from matching resistors and preamplifiers adds up so that the timing performance is sub-optimal. The TCSPC response of two selected channels of the PML-16 detector head is shown in fig. 32. The response of a single channel of different R5900-L16 is between 150 ps and 220 ps FWHM. Fig. 32: System response of two selected channels of the PML-16 detector head The response is slightly different for the individual channels. Fig. 33 shows the response for the 16 channels as sequence of curves and as a colour-intensity plot. There is a systematic wobble in the delay of response with the channel number. That means, for the analysis of fluorescence lifetime measurements the instrument response function (IRF) must be measured for all channels, and each channel must be de-convoluted with its individual IRF. Fig. 33: System response of the PML-16 / R5900-L16 channels. Left curve plot, right colour-intensity plot 16 The data sheet of the R5900-L16 gives a channel crosstalk of only 3%. There is certainly no reason to doubt about this value. However, in real setup it is almost impossible to reach such a small crosstalk. If crosstalk is an issue the solution is to use only each second channel of the R5900-L16 [31]. If the PML-16 is used with only 8 channels, the data of the unused channels should simply remain unused. If the R5900-L16 is used outside the PML-16 the unused anodes should be terminated into ground with 50 Ω. A histogram of the times between the photon pulses is shown in fig. 34. No afterpulsing was found in the R5900-L16. It appears unlikely that the absence of afterpulses was a special feature of the tested device. The result is surprising because afterpulsing is detectable in all PMTs of conventional design. It seems that the ‘metal channel’ design of the R5900 is really different from any conventional dynode structure. That means, the R5900-L16 and the Fig. 34: R5900-L16, histogram of times between photons. PML-16 detector head are exceptionally No afterpulsing was found. suitable for combined multi-wavelength fluorescence lifetime and FCS experiments. The absence of afterpulses can be a benefit also in high repetition rate TCSPC measurements in that there is no signal-dependent background. A R5900-L16 with a GaAs or GaAsP cathode - although not announced yet - would be a great detector. Side Window PMTs Side window PMTs are rugged, inexpensive, and often have somewhat higher cathode efficiency than front window PMTs. The broad TTS and the long SER pulses make them less useful for TCSPC application or for multiscaling or gated photon counting with high peak count rates. However, side-window PMTs are used in many fluorescence spectrometers, in femtosecond correlators and in laser scanning microscopes. If an instrument like these has to be upgraded with a photon counting device it can be difficult to replace the detector. Therefore, some typical results for side window PMTs are given below. The width and the shape of the TCSPC system response depend on the size and the location of the illuminated spot on the photocathode. The response for the R931 - a traditional 28 mm diameter PMT - for a spot diameter of 3 mm is shown in Fig. 35. Fig. 35: R931, TCSPC system response for different spots on the photocathode. Spot diameter 3mm 17 By carefully selecting the spot on the photocathode an acceptable response can be achieved [31,32]. A TCSPC response width down to 112 ps FWHM has been reported [32]. This short value was obtained by using single electron pulses in an extremely narrow amplitude interval and illuminating a small spot near the edge of the cathode. The afterpulse probability for an R931 is shown in Fig. 36. The afterpulse probability depends Fig. 36: R931, histogram of times between photons. Red -900V, blue -1000V. The afterpulse probability on the operating voltage, and the afterpulses increases with voltage occur within a time interval of about 3 µs. The high afterpulse probability does not only exclude correlation measurements on the time scale below 3 µs, it can also result in a considerable signal-dependent background in high repetition rate TCSPC applications. Surprisingly, modern 13 mm diameter side window tubes are not faster than the traditional 28 mm tubes. The TCSPC response for a Hamamatsu R6350 is shown in fig. 37. Fig. 37: R6350, TCSPC system response for illumination of full cathode area 13 mm tubes are often used in the scanning heads of laser scanning microscopes. It is difficult, if not impossible to replace the side-window PMTs with faster detectors in these instruments. Therefore it is often unavoidable to use the 13 mm side-on tube for TCSPC lifetime imaging. Depending on the size and the location of the illuminated spot an FWHM of 300 to 600 ps can be expected. Although this is sufficient to determine the lifetimes of typical high quantum yield chromophores, accurate FRET and fluorescence quenching experiments require a higher time resolution. CP 944 Channel Photomultiplier The channel photomultipliers of Perkin Elmer offer high gain and low dark count rates at a reasonable cost. Unfortunately the devices have an extremely broad TTS. The TCSPC system response to a 650nm diode laser is shown in fig. 38. The FWHM of the response is of the order of 1.4 to 1.9 ns which is insufficient for typical TCSPC applications. 18 Fig. 38: CP 944 channel photomultiplier, TCSPC response. 650 nm, count rate 1.5.105, high voltage -2.8 kV (red) and -2.9 kV (blue). Full cathode illuminated However, the Perkin Elmer channel PMTs have high gain, a low dark count rate and a surprisingly narrow pulse height distribution. This makes them exceptionally useful for low intensity steady state photon counting or multichannel scaling. SPCM-AQR Single Photon Avalanche Photodiode Module The Perkin Elmer SPCM-AQR single photon avalanche photodiode modules are well-known for their high quantum efficiency in the near-infrared. Unfortunately the modules have a very poor timing performance. The TCSPC response for a SPCM-AQR-12 (dark count class <250 cps) is shown in fig. 39. Fig. 39: SPCM-AQR-12, TCSPC response. Left: 405nm, red 50 kHz, blue 500 kHz count rate. Right: 650 nm, red 50 kHz, blue 500 kHz count rate The response was measured with a 405 nm BDL-405 and a 650 nm ps diode laser of Becker & Hickl. The pulse width of the lasers was 70 to 80 ps, i.e. much shorter that the detector response. The measurements show that the TTS is not only much wider than specified, there is also a considerable change with the wavelength, and, still worse, with the count rate. Therefore the SPCM-AQR cannot be used for fluorescence lifetime measurements. Fig. 40: SPCM-AQR-14, 650 nm, count rates 8 104 (green), Interestingly, an older SPCM-AQR had a 5 105 (red) and 1 106 (blue) smaller count-rate dependence. Fig. 40 shows the TCSPC response of an SPCM-AQR-14 (dark count class < 40 cps) manufactured in 1999. Although the shift with the count rate is still too large for fluorescence lifetime experiments, it is much smaller than for the new device. 19 The afterpulse probability of the SPCMAQR is low enough for correlation experiments down to a few 100 ns, fig. 41. An inconvenience of the non-fibre version of the SPCM-AQR is that it is almost impossible to attach it to an optical system without getting daylight into the optical path. A standard optical adapter, e.g. a Cmount thread around the photodiode, would simplify the optical setup considerably. Fig. 419: SPCM-AQR-12, histogram of times between photons The conclusion is that the SPCM-AQR is an excellent detector for fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and high efficiency steady state photon counting but not applicable to fluorescence lifetime measurements. This is disappointing, particularly because state-of-the-art TCSPC techniques allow for simultaneous FCS / lifetime measurements which are exceptionally useful to investigate conformational changes in protein-dye complexes, single-molecule FRET and diffusion processes in living cells. Currently the only solution for these applications is to use PMT detectors, i.e. the R3809U MCP, the H7422 or the R5900 which, of course, means to sacrifice some efficiency. Summary There is no detector that meets all requirements of photon counting - high quantum efficiency, low dark count rate, short transit time spread, narrow pulse height distribution, high peak count rate, high continuous count rate, and low afterpulse probability. The detector with the highest efficiency, the Perkin Elmer SPCM-AQR, has a broad and count-rate dependent transit time spread. The R7400 miniature PMTs and the H5783 and H5773 photosensor modules of Hamamatsu have a short transit-time spread and work well for TCSPC, steady state photon counting, and multiscaler applications. However, they cannot be used for correlation experiments below 1.5 us because of their high afterpulse probability. The H7422 modules offer high efficiency combined with acceptable transit time spread. The afterpulse probability can be kept low if they are operated at reduced gain. There are two really remarkable detectors - the Hamamatsu R3809U MCP and the R5900 multi-anode PMT. Both tubes are free of afterpulses. The R3809U achieves a TTS, i.e. a TCSPC response below 30 ps FWHM while the R5900-L1 reaches < 200 ps in 16 parallel channels. Only these detectors appear fully applicable for simultaneous fluorescence correlation and lifetime experiments. References [1] Photomultiplier Tube, Hamamatsu Photonics, 1994 [2] PMS-400 Gated photon Counter and Multiscaler. 70 pages, Becker & Hickl GmbH, www.becker-hickl.com [3] PMM-328 8 Channel Gated Photon Counter / Multiscaler. 62 pages, Becker & Hickl GmbH, www.becker-hickl.com [4] E.P. Buurman, R. Sanders, A. Draijer, H.C. Gerritsen, J.J.F. van Veen, P.M. Houpt, Y.K. Levine : Fluorescence lifetime imaging using a confocal laser scanning microscope. Scanning 14, 155-159 (1992). [5] J. Syrtsma, J.M. Vroom, C.J. de Grauw, H.C. Gerritsen, Time-gated fluorescence lifetime imaging and microvolume spectroscopy using two-photon excitation. Journal of Microscopy, 191 (1998) 39-51 20 [6] MSA-200, MSA-300, MSA-1000 Ultrafast Photon Counters / Multiscalers. 65 pages, Becker & Hickl GmbH, www.becker-hickl.com [7] Model P7886, P7886S, P7886E PCI based GHz Multiscaler. www fastcomtec.com [8] D.V. O’Connor, D. Phillips, Time Correlated Single Photon Counting, Academic Press, London 1984 [9] SPC-134 through SPC-830 operating manual and TCSPC compendium. 186 pages, Becker & Hickl GmbH, Jan. 2002, www.becker-hickl.com [10] Ballew, R.M., Demas, J.N., An error analysis of the rapid lifetime determination method for the evaluation of single exponential decays. Anal. Chem. 61 (1989) 30-33 [11] K. Carlsson, J.P. Philip, Theoretical Investigation of the Signal-to-Noise ratio for different fluorescence lifetime imaging techniques. SPIE Conference 4622A, BIOS 2002, San Jose 2002 [12] Routing Modules for Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting, Becker & Hickl GmbH, www.becker-hickl.com [13] PML-16 16 Channel Detector Head, Operating Manual. Becker & Hickl GmbH, www.becker-hickl.com [14] W. Becker, A. Bergmann, H. Wabnitz, D. Grosenick, A. Liebert, High count rate multichannel TCSPC for optical tomography. Proc. SPIE 4431, 249-254 (2001), ECBO2001, Munich [15] Wolfgang Becker, Axel Bergmann, Christoph Biskup, Thomas Zimmer, Nikolaj Klöcker, Klaus Benndorf, Multi-wavelength TCSPC lifetime imaging. Proc. SPIE 4620, BIOS 2002, San Jose [16] Wolfgang Becker, Klaus Benndorf, Axel Bergmann, Christoph Biskup, Karsten König, Uday Tirplapur, Thomas Zimmer, FRET Measurements by TCSPC Laser Scanning Microscopy, Proc. SPIE 4431, ECBO2001, Munich [17] J. Schaffer, A. Volkmer, C. Eggeling, V. Subramaniam, C. A. M. Seidel, Identification of single molecules in aqueous solution by time-resolved anisotropy. Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 103 (1999) 331-335 [18] TCSPC Laser Scanning Microscopy - Upgrading laser scanning microscopes with the SPC-830 and SPC730 TCSPC lifetime imaging modules. 36 pages, Becker&Hickl GmbH, www.becker-hickl.com [19] K.M. Berland, P.T.C. So, E. Gratton, Two-photon fluorescence correlation spectroscopy: Method and application to the intracellular environment. Biophys. J. 88 (1995) 694-701 [20] P. Schwille, S. Kummer, A.H. Heikal, W.E. Moerner, W.W. Webb, Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy reveals fast optical excitation-driven intramolecular dynamics of yellow fluorescent proteins. PNAS 97 (2000) 151-156 [21] Michael Prummer, Christian Hübner, Beate Sick, Bert Hecht, Alois Renn, Urs P. Wild, Single-Molecule Identification by Spectrally and Time-Resolved Fluorescence Detection. Anal. Chem. 2000, 72, 433-447 [22] W. Hartmann, F. Bernhard, Fotovervielfacher und ihre Anwendung in der Kernphysik. Akademie-Verlag Berlin 1957 [23] S. Cova, S. Lacaiti, M.Ghioni, G. Ripamonti, T.A. Louis, 20-ps timing resolution with single-photon avalanche photodiodes. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 60, 1989, 1104-1110 [24] S. Cova, A, Longoni, G. Ripamonti, Active-quenching and gating circuits for single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). IEEE Trans. Nucl. Science, NS29 (1982) 599-601 [25] P.A. Ekstrom, Triggered-avalanche detection of optical photons. J. Appl. Phsy. 52 (1981) 6974-6979 [26] SPCM-AQR Series, www.perkin-elmer.com [27] R3809U MCP-PMT, Hamamatsu data sheet. www.hamamatsu.com [28] H7422 Photosensor modules. www.hamamatsu.com [29] Wolfgang Becker, Axel Bergmann, Georg Weiss, Lifetime Imaging with the Zeiss LSM-510. Proc. SPIE 4620, BIOS 2002, San Jose [30] H5783 and H5773 photosensor modules. www.hamamatsu.com [31] Rinaldo Cubeddu, Eleonora Giambattistelli, Antonio Pifferi, Paola Taroni, Alessandro Torricelli, Portable 8-channel time-resolved optical imager for functional studies of biological tissues, Proc. SPIE, 4431, 260-265 21 Boston Electronics (800)347-5445 or [email protected] REDEFINING PRECISION id100 SERIES SINGL E-PHOTON DETECTOR FOR VISIB L E L IGHT WITH B EST-IN-CL A SS TIMING A CCURA CY IDQ’s id100 series consists of compact and affordable single-photon detector modules with best-in-class timing resolution and state-of-the-art dark count rate based on a reliable silicon avalanche photodiode sensitive in the visible spectral range. The id100 series detectors come as: free-space modules, the id100-20 and id100-50 with a 20µm and respectively a 50µm diameter photosensitive area, a fiber-coupled module, the id100-MMF50, coming with a standard FC/PC optical input. The modules are available in two dark count grades, with dark count rate as low as 2Hz. With a timing resolution as low as 40ps and a remarkably short dead time of 45ns, these modules outperform existing commercial detectors in all applications requiring single-photon detection with high timing accuracy and stability up to count rates of at least 10MHz. K EY FEATURES A PPL ICATIONS Best-in-class timing resolution (40ps) Time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) Low dead time (45ns) Fluorescence and luminescence detection Small IRF shift at high count rates Single molecule detection, DNA sequencing Standard and Ultra-Low Noise grades Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy Peak photon detection at λ = 500nm Flow cytometry, spectrophotometry Active area diameter of 20µm or 50µm Quantum cryptography, quantum optics Free-space or multimode fiber coupling Laser scanning microscopy Not damaged by strong illumination Adaptive optics ID Qu an t i q u e SA 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] om Boston Electronics (800)347-5445 or [email protected] SPECIFICATIONS Par am et er Mi n Wavelength range 350 2 1 40 3 Single-photon detection probability (SPDE) Un i t s 900 nm 70k 60 ps 60k 50k at 400nm 15 18 % at 500nm 30 35 % at 600nm 20 25 % at 700nm 15 18 % at 800nm 5 7 % at 900nm 3 4 % 3 % 9 10 15 ns 1.5 2 2.5 V 45 50 ns Afterpulsing probability 5 Output pulse width 4 Deadtime 6 6 4 5 Output pulse amplitude Maximum count rate (pulsed light) Supply voltage 7 20 5.6 5 Supply current Storage temperature 6 6.5 V 100 150 mA 70 °C 5 s Cooling time Dar k c o u n t r at e: IDQ´s modules are available in two grades: St an d ar d and Ul t r a-L o w No i s e, depending on dark count rate specifications. TE c o o l ed St an d ar d Ul t r a-L o w No i s e i d 100-20 20 µm m y es < 60Hz < 2Hz i d 100-50 50 µm m y es 3 y es < 80Hz < 20Hz 4 A f t er p u l s i n g 5 Ou t p u t Pu l s e 8 A u t o c o r r el at i o n Fu n c t i o n 7 6 5 3 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 Ti m e [ n s ] 2 IRF Sh i f t w i t h Ou t p u t Co u n t Rat e 70k 60k 50k 40k 30k 20k 10k 0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 Ti m e [ n s ] Extremely low shift of instrument response function with output count rate (less than 70ps from 10kHz to 8MHz). 3 Ph o t o n Det ec t i o n Pr o b ab i l i t y v er s u s λ 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 500 600 700 800 900 Wav el en g t h [ n m ] 10n s 2 6 Dead Ti m e 1 0 0.1 20k 0 400 4 FWHM Ti m i n g Res o l u t i o n 40p s 30k 0 0.0 Ph o t o n Det ec t i o n Pr o b ab i l i t y [ %] A c t i v e A r ea Di am et er 40k 10k MHz -40 i d 100-MMF50 Co u n t s [ Hz ] 1 1 Ti m i n g Res o l u t i o n Max Co u n t s [ Hz ] Timing resolution [FWHM] Ty p i c al 1 10 100 1000 Ti m e [ µs ] Typical autocorrelation function of a constant laser signal recorded at a count rate of 10kHz. Typical pulse of 2V amplitude and 10ns width observed at the output of an id100 terminated with 50Ω load. Recommended trigger level: 1V. For timing applications, triggering on rising edge is recommended to take full advantage of the detector´s timing resolution. 1 Optimal timing resolution is obtained when incoming photons are focused on the photosensitive area. 4 The detector output is designed to avoid distorsion and ringing when driving a 50Ω load. 2 The id100 is free of indicating LEDs to maintain complete darkness during measurements. 5 Universal network adapter provided (110/220V). 3 The id100-MMF50 comes with a 50/125µm multimode fiber optimized for visible spectral range with 0.22 numerical aperture. The coupling efficiency is larger than 80%. 6 See on page 4 the A-PPI-D pulse shaper for negative input equipment compatibility. ID Qu an t i q u e SA 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 h o l d -o f f t i m e d ead t i m e 10n s Measurement obtained with an oscilloscope in infinite persistance mode: the dead time consists of the output pulse width and the hold-off time during which the id100 is kept insensitive. [email protected] (800)347-5445 or [email protected] DIMENSIONA L OUTL INE 7 Max i m u m Co u n t Rat e - Pu l s ed L i g h t (i n m m ) i d 100-20 / i d 100-50 Fr o n t Vi ew i d 100-MMF50 Fr o n t Vi ew C-MOUNT: O1inch-32threads/inch C-MOUNT adapter FC/PC connector 20n s 39.0 +/- 0.5 39.0 +/- 0.5 C-MOUNT 20µm or 50µm active area 61.0 +/- 0.5 61.0 +/- 0.5 87.0 +/- 0.5 The short dead time of the id100 allows operation at very high repetition frequencies, up to 20MHz. 87.0 +/- 0.5 i d 100-20 / i d 100-50 To p Vi ew i d 100-MMF50 To p Vi ew FC/PC connector C-MOUNT adapter 79.0 +/- 0.5 MOUNTING OPTIONS 4.0 +/-0.5 4.0 +/-0.5 79.0 +/- 0.5 8.0 +/- 0.2 + + i d 100-20 / i d 100-50 B o t t o m Vi ew PRINCIPL E OF OPERATION The id100 consists of an avalanche photodiode (APD) and an active quenching circuit integrated on the same silicon chip. The chip is mounted on a thermo-electric cooler and packaged in a standard TO5 header with a transparent window cap. A thermistor is used to measure temperature. The APD is operated in Geiger mode, i.e. biased above breakdown voltage. A high voltage supply used to bias the diode is provided by a DC/DC converter. The quenching circuit is supplied with +5V. The module output pulse indicates the arrival of a photon with high timing resolution. The pulse is shaped using a hold-off time circuit and sent to a 50Ω output driver. All internal settings are preset for optimal operation at room temperature. 127.3 +/-0.5 57.0 +/-0.5 The id100 series comes with different mounting options: Use mounting brackets supplied with the module using screws with diameters up to 4mm. Use a standard optical post holder (not supplied)using the M4 thread located on the bottom side of the id100-20 & id10050 detectors. Use the C-MOUNT adapter to add optical elements in front of the detector (id10020 & id100-50 only). 80.0 +/- 0.5 8.0 +/- 0.2 + + M4 + + UNIT: m i l l i m et er s B L OCK DIA GRA M +6V Input Filter & Linear Regulator TO5 header +5V R(T) DC DC SMB jack (female) 2V 10ns 50W Output Driver Hold-off Time Circuit Temperature Controller TEC Quenching Circuit APD High Voltage Supply In the fiber-coupled version, a fiber pigtail with FC/PC connector is coupled to the detector. ID Qu an t i q u e SA 151.1 +/- 0.5 Boston Electronics 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] Chip Detection Boston Electronics (800)347-5445 or [email protected] A CCESSORY - OPTIONA L PUL SE SHA PER IDQ provides as an option a pulse shaper (A-PPI-D) which can be used with equipments requiring negative input pulses. The id100 output pulse leading edge is converted in a sharp negative pulse of typical amplitudes 1.4V in 50Ω load and 2.5V in high impedance load. The pulse shaper is delivered with two SMA/BNC adapters. Typical output pulse of an id100 equipped with a A-PPI-D pulse shaper in 50Ω load. Typical output pulse of an id100 equipped with a A-PPI-D pulse shaper in high impedance load. i d 101 SERIES - THE WORL D´S SMA L L EST PHOTON COUNTER For large-volume OEM applications, IDQ offers the id101 series, consisting of a standard TO5 - 8pins optoelectronic package with a CMOS silicon chip (single photon avalanche diode and fast active quenching circuit) mounted on top of a thermoelectric cooler. A thermistor is available for temperature monitoring and control. An evaluation board is available upon request. When properly biased, the performance is comparable with that of the id100-50. IDQ's engineering team offers technical support to simplify integration. A fiber coupled version, the id101-MMF50, is also available. See the id101 datasheet for more information. OTHER PRODUCTS id101 id150 id201 id300 id400 Quantis Clavis2 Cerberis Centauris Miniature single-photon detector for the visible spectral range (see above) Monolithic linear array of single-photon detectors for the visible range Single-photon detector for telecom wavelenghts Short pulse laser source Single photon counting module for the 900-1150nm spectral range Quantum Random Number Generator Quantum Key Distribution System for R&D Layer 2 encryptor with Quantum Key Distribution Layer 2 encryptor fiber-coupled version: id100-MMF50 SUPPL IED A CCESSORIES Mounting brackets (4x) C-Mount adapter (except for id100-MMF50) Coaxial cable (1m, BNC-SMB) Power supply with universal input plugs Operating guide Angled 2.5mm hexagonal key to remove C-Mount adapter Angled T10 Torx key to remove mounting brackets C-MOUNT ORDERING INFORMATION id100-20-XXX id100-50-XXX id100-MMF50-XXX Single-photon detector with 20µm active area. Single-photon detector with 50µm active area. Single-photon detector with multimode fiber pigtail (50/125µm, FC/PC connector). Select dark count grade: XXX = STD for Standard, XXX = ULN for Ultra-Low Noise. free-space version: id100-20 & id100-50 Di s c l ai m er The information and specification set forth in this document are subject to change at any time by ID Quantique without prior notice. Copyright© 2005-2010 ID Quantique SA - All rights reserved - id100 v3.1 - Specifications as of March 2010 ID Qu an t i q u e SA 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] Boston Electronics (800)347-5445 or [email protected] REDEFINING PRECISION id101 SERIES MINIATURE PHOTON COUNTER FOR OEM A PPL ICATIONS Intended for large-volume OEM applications, the id101 is the smallest, most reliable and most efficient single photon detector on the market. It consists of a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) silicon chip packaged in a standard TO5-8pin header with a transparent window cap. The chip combines either a 20µm (id101-20) or a 50µm diameter (id101-50) singlephoton avalanche diode and a fast active quenching circuit, which guarantees a dead time of less than 50ns. The chip is mounted on top of a single-stage thermoelectric cooler (TEC). A fibercoupled version, the id101-MMF50, is also available. The maximum photon detection probability is measured in the blue spectral range (35% at 500nm). An outstanding timing resolution of less than 60ps allows high accuracy measurements. The performance of the id101 detectors is comparable to that of the id100-20 and id100-50 modules. The id101 can be mounted on a printed circuit board and integrated in apparatuses such as spectrometers or microscopes. The module is used in biological/chemical instrumentation, quantum optics, aerospace and defense applications. Contrary to legacy photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and other silicon-based counters manufactured tor is fabricated using a qualified commercial with non-standard custom process, the id101 detector CMOS process, which guarantees high reliability. K EY FEATURES A PPL ICATIONS Best-in-class timing resolution (40ps) Time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) Low dead time (45ns) Fluorescence and luminescence detection Small IRF shift at high count rates Single molecule detection, DNA sequencing Peak photon detection at λ = 500nm Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy Active area diameter of 20µm or 50µm Flow cytometry, spectrophotometry Free-space or multimode fiber coupling Quantum cryptography, quantum optics Not damaged by strong illumination Laser scanning microscopy Integrated thermoelectric cooler and thermistor Adaptive optics ID Qu an t i q u e SA 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] om Boston Electronics PRINCIPL E OF OPERATION (800)347-5445 or [email protected] B L OCK DIA GRA M The id101 is based on a 0.8x0.8mm CMOS silicon chip containing a 20µm or 50µm diameter avalanche diode and its active quenching circuit. To operate in the Geiger mode, the diode anode is biased with a negative voltage Vop. The cathode is linked to VDD through a polysilicon resistor Rq. Before the photon arrival, the switch is open (nonconducting) and the cathode is at VDD. When a photon strikes the diode, the voltage drop induced on the cathode is sensed by the sensing circuit. The output pin OUT switches to VDD. The feedback circuit closes the switch: the diode is biased below its breakdown voltage resulting in the avalanche quenching. The diode is then kept below breakdown and the recharge takes place with the opening of the switch. The full cycle is defined as the sensor dead time. In any single photon avalanche diode, thermally generated carriers induce false counts, called dark counts. A singlestage thermoelectric cooler (TEC) allows to cool the device to reduce the dark count rate. Furthermore, the photon detection probability in a single photon avalanche diode is dependent on the excess bias voltage above breakdown. The breakdown voltage being temperature dependent, it is often crucial to keep the sensor at a constant temperature. The thermistor included in the id101 allows one to implement a temperature control circuit. 2 DIMENSIONA L OUTL INE (i n m m ) A ND PINOUT VDD Rq sensing circuit output driver OUT G ND VOP TEC TEC(-) TEC(+) R(T) THERM(2) t h er m i s t o r s i n g l e-s t ag e TEC THERM(1) silicon chip including t h e s i n g l e p h o t o n av al an c h e p h o t o d i o d e an d t h e ac t i v e q u en c h i n g c i r c u i t ∅ 20.0 +/-0.5 i d 101-MMF50 f i b er -c o u p l ed v er s i o n feedback circuit TO5 - 8 p i n s h ead er 50.0 FC/PC c o n n ec t o r - Window material: glass - Pin material: gold plated - The 20µm or 50µm active area is aligned with the centre of the glass window. The positioning accuracy is +/100microns. ID Qu an t i q u e SA 1227 Carouge/Geneva +/-0.1 1.9 6.6 c o n n ec t i o n VOP VDD t h er m i s t o r t h er m i s t o r GND OUT TEC(-) TEC(+) +/-0.1 +/-0.2 pin # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ∅ 9.1 ∅ 8.33 +/-0.2 m u l t i m o d e f i b er t y p .l en g t h =150m m 0.6 +/-0.1 TO5 f i b er p i g t ai l ∅ 0.43 +/-0.05 T +41 22 301 83 71 UNIT: millimeters [email protected] Boston Electronics (800)347-5445 or [email protected] SPECIFICATIONS Par am et er Wavelength range Active area diameter Mi n 350 Ty p i c al Max 900 Un i t s nm 70k 60k 1 15 30 20 15 5 3 20 µm 50k 50 40 µm ps 40k 18 35 25 18 7 4 % % % % % % Hz Hz % 40 50 ns ns V mA 35 45 VDD 4 10k 0 0.0 0.5 30 40 4.8 0.25 -24 35 45 40 50 ns ns 5.0 28 22 5.2 2.2 -26 MHz MHz V mA V 100 µA 70 °C 1.5 2.0 Un i t Val u e (c o n d i t i o n s ) Ω 3.56 +/- 0.16 (at Tr=300K) Maximum Current Imax A 0.4 +/- 0.02 (at ∆Tmax) Maximum Voltage Drop Umax V 1.35 +/- 0.07 (at ∆Tmax) Maximum Delta-T ∆tmax K 67.0 +/- 2.0 (Vacuum, Q=0, Tr=300K) Maximum Cooling Capacity Qmax W 0.29 +/- 0.01 (at ∆T=0) THERMOSENSOR SPECIFICATIONS 3.0 2 Ph o t o n Det ec t i o n Pr o b ab i l i t y v er s u s λ 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 400 500 600 700 800 900 3 A f t er p u l s i n g 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0.1 1 10 100 MOUNTING DETA IL S Val u e (c o n d i t i o n s ) TEC mounting Resistance R0 kΩ 2.2 +/- 0.16 at 293K Thermosensor mounting Beta Constant β K 2918.9 +/- 5% Wire mounting soldering, 117°C epoxy glue soldering, 183°C The thermistor resistance can be calculated by: RT = R293K*exp(β(293-T)/(293*T)) 1227 Carouge/Geneva 1000 Typical autocorrelation function of a constant laser signal, recorded at a count rate of 10kHz. Un i t ID Qu an t i q u e SA 2.5 Ti m e [ n s ] Ti m e [ µs ] THERMOEL ECTRIC COOL ER SPECIFICATIONS -1 1.0 Wav el en g t h [ n m ] 1 The id101-MMF50 comes with a 50/125µm multimode fiber pigtail with a 0.22 numerical aperture. The overall coupling efficiency exceeds 80%. Par am et er 20k Ph o t o n Det ec t i o n Pr o b ab i l i t y [ %] 4b 30 40 50 300 3 -40 Resistance ACR FWHM Ti m i n g Res o l u t i o n 40p s 30k 35 15 100 Current on VOP Storage temperature 60 A u t o c o r r el at i o n Fu n c t i o n id101-50 Timing resolution [FWHM] 1 Single-photon detection probability (SPDE) 2 at 400nm at 500nm at 600nm at 700nm at 800nm at 900nm Dark count rate (DCR) id101-20 id101-50 Afterpulsing probability 3 Output pulse width id101-20 4a 5a id101-50 and id101-MMF50 4b 5b Output pulse amplitude (in high impedance) 4a Output driver capability Deadtime id101-20 id101-50 and id101-MMF50 Maximum count rate (pulsed light) id101-20 6a id101-50 and id101-MMF50 6b VDD supply voltage Current on VDD VOP supply voltage Co u n t s [ Hz ] id101-20 Par am et er 1 Ti m i n g Res o l u t i o n T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] Boston Electronics (800)347-5445 or [email protected] 10n s 1V 10n s 10n s 1V 4a 5a 6a 1V 10n s 1V 10n s 10n s 1V 4b 5b Typical pulses observed at the id101-20 (4a) and id101-50 or id101-MMF50 (4b) outputs in high impedance. 6b Extended pulses observed at the id101-20 (5a) and id101-50 or id101-MMF50 (5b) outputs at high illumination level. When an avalanche is triggered during the recharge process, the output remains high, giving an extended pulse. This effect leads to a decrease of the output count rate. 1V The short dead time of the id101 allows operation at very high repetition frequencies, up to 28MHz for the id101-20 (6a) and 22MHz for the id101-50 or id101-MMF50 (6b). i d 101-EVA EVA L UATION B OA RD An evaluation board has been developed for preliminary optical and electrical testing of the id101. The id101 under test can be plugged into a socket intended for TO5 headers. The evaluation board comes with a power supply with universal range of input plugs and a 1m coaxial cable ended with a BNC connector. A PPL ICATION EXA MPL E - COMB INATION IN A RRAY El ec t r o n i c Ci r c u i t s f o r : -p o w er s u p p l y -o u t p u t d r i v er -t em p er at u r e c o n t r o l Many industrial applications would greatly benefit from a single photon detector array. When the required array size is reasonably small (i.e. < 10x10), it is possible to assemble several closely spaced TO5 headers to form an array. As illustrated in the figure, opposite, for a 3x3 array, several TO headers can be mounted on a printed circuit board. The minimum center-to-center pitch is 9.5 mm. Common electronic circuits for power supply, output stage and temperature control can be implemented on the PCB. If a high accuracy for the distance from pixel to pixel is required or if a large array is needed, IDQ offers a custom design service for the design of an applicationspecific CMOS chip. ID Qu an t i q u e SA 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] Boston Electronics (800)347-5445 or [email protected] TYPICA L A PPL ICATION CIRCUIT Po w er St ag e The id101 requires two power supplies, VDD and VOP. A standard inverting DC/DC converter can convert the +5V level to the high negative voltage level VOP. The remaining electronic circuits on the PCB board can be supplied with the same +5V power. Two 100nF capacitances must be added as close as possible to the output pins for decoupling purpose. Ou t p u t St ag e The id101 output can be shaped for the back-end electronic circuits (e.g. counter, TDC, TAC) using the circuit shown below. A D-type Flip-Flop with asynchroneous clear combined with a delay generator (RC for instance) and an inverter with a Schmitt trigger input allows to set the pulse width and the dead time. Tem p er at u r e Co n t r o l For proper operation, it is highly recommended to implement a thermal stabilisation circuit on the final printed circuit board, using the single-stage TEC and the 2.2kΩ thermistor provided. Integrated temperature controllers for Peltier modules are commercially available. VDD +5V Rq inverting DC/DC converter feedback circuit sensing circuit 1 output driver C CP OUT 1 GND D Q delay OUT VOP TEC TEC(-) TEC(+) +5V THERM(2) THERM(1) R(T) temperature controller A CCESSORY - OPTIONA L PUL SE SHA PER IDQ provides as an option a pulse shaper (APPI-D) which can be used with equipments requiring negative input pulses. The id100 output pulse leading edge is converted in a sharp negative pulse of typical amplitudes 1.4V in 50Ω load and 2.5V in high impedance load. The pulse shaper is delivered with two SMA/BNC adapters. ID Qu an t i q u e SA Typical output pulse of an id100 equipped Typical output pulse of an id100 equipped with a A-PPI-D pulse shaper in high impedance load. with aA-PPI-D pulse shaper in 50Ω load. 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] W E N REDEFINING PRECISION Single Photon Counter Visible AR Y Large active area 500um - High Quantum Efficiency at 650nm and at 800nm IDQ’s id100 series consists of compact and affordable single-photon detector modules based on a reliable silicon avalanche photodiode sensitive in the visible spectral range. Up to now, the id100 series was limited to detectors with high efficiency values in the green region (around 500nm). The two new detectors of id100 series have high efficiency values in the red region of the visible spectrum and ultra high active area. These new detectors come as : free-space module, passive quenching, maximal efficiency value around 650nm free-space module, passive quenching, maximal efficiency value around 800nm IN Those two detection modules are highly versatile thanks to an USB connexion and a Labview interface allowing the user to change the bias voltage and the temperature of the diode. The modules are equiped of a dual universal output signal port which can be set through the software interface. The modules are compatible with the C-mount, SM1 and cage technologies from Thorlabs. This allows an easy coupling of the light beam onto the active area of the detectors. IM KEY FEATURES One module optimized around 650nm One module optimized around 800nm EL Tunable efficiency Tunable temperature of the diode Adjustable deadtime Universal dual output Labview interface PR C-mount, SM1, cage compatible APPLICATIONS Time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) Fluorescence and luminescence detection Single molecule detection, DNA sequencing Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy Spectrophotometry Laser scanning microscopy ID Quantique SA Chemin de la Marbrerie 3 1227 Carouge/Geneva Switzerland T +41 22 301 83 71 F +41 22 301 83 79 [email protected] www.idquantique.com co SPECIFICATIONS The id120 is a versatile device allowing you to adjust the excess bias, the deadtime and the temperature. Please note that the values in the specification table are dependent on the user-defined parameters. To have a fair overview of the specifications, it is recommended to carefully review the curves «Efficiency vs excess bias» and «Dark count rate vs temperature». ID120-500-800nm ID120-500-650nm Parameter Min Wavelength range 350 Active area Typical Max Min 1000 350 Typical Max Units 1000 nm 500 500 um Single-photon detection probability (SPDE) at 650nm (at max. excess bias) 1 at 800nm (at max. excess bias) Dark Count Rate Down to 500 Timing resolution [FWHM] 200 3000 200 1000 % % 3 400 Hz 1000 1 NIM & LVTTL & Variable 2 id120-500-650nm: Dark count rate versus temperature 1227 Carouge/Geneva Switzerland -40 70 ns 70 1 Efficiency versus Excess Bias @ 808nm 3 id210-500-800nm: Dark count rate versus temperature T +41 22 301 83 71 F +41 22 301 83 79 [email protected] www.idquantique.com co ps us 100 100 -40 1 Efficiency versus Excess Bias @ 655nm ID Quantique SA Chemin de la Marbrerie 3 2 55 80 1 Output pulse width Storage temperature 1 40 NIM & LVTTL & Variable Deadtime Output pulse 400 60 °C Boston Electronics (800)347-5445 or [email protected] REDEFINING PRECISION id150 SERIES MINIATURE 8-CHA NNEL PHOTON COUNTER FOR OEM A PPL ICATIONS The id150-1x8 is the only multichannel solid-state single photon detector on the market. It consists of a CMOS silicon chip packaged in a standard TO8-16pin header with a transparent window cap. The chip combines 8 in-line single photon avalanche diodes that can be accessed simultaneously for parallel processing. The square diodes are 40x40µm in area with a center-tocenter pitch of 60µm . A fast active quenching circuit is integrated within each pixel in order to operate each diode in photon counting regime. The chip is mounted on a printed circuit board on top of a single-stage thermoelectric cooler (TEC). A thermistor can be used to measure the temperature of the chip. Two power supplies (+5V and -25V) are sufficient for operation in photon counting mode. The fast active quenching circuit leads to a dead time of less than 50ns per channel. An outstanding timing resolution of less than 60ps allows high accuracy measurements. The id150-1x8 can be mounted on a printed circuit board and integrated in apparatus such as spectrometers or microscopes. The module is used in biological/chemical instrumentation, quantum optics, aerospace and defense applications. The small detector size is ideal for portable device applications. Contrary to legacy photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and other silicon-based counters manufactured with non-standard custom process, the id150-1x8 is fabricated using a qualified commercial CMOS process, which guarantees high reliability. K EY FEATURES A PPL ICATIONS 1x8 linear array with independent outputs High-throughput single molecule detection Pixel active area of 40x40µm Parallel DNA sequencing 2 Center-to-center pitch of 60µm Multi-Channel TCSPC Best-in-class timing resolution (40ps) Fluorescence and luminescence detection Low dead time (45ns) and dark count rate Decay and multiple decay time measurements Peak photon detection at λ = 500nm Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy No crosstalk Flow cytometry, spectrophotometry Not damaged by strong illumination Quantum optics ID Qu an t i q u e SA 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] om Boston Electronics PRINCIPL E OF OPERATION (800)347-5445 or [email protected] L INEA R A RRAY PICTURE The id150-1x8 is based on a 1.2x1.4mm CMOS silicon chip containing 8 in-line independent single photon detectors. Each pixel combines a square avalanche photodiode of 40x40µm2 area and its active quenching circuit. The pixel center-to-center pitch is 60µm (fill factor exceeds 75%). To operate in the Geiger mode, each diode anode is biased with a negative voltage. In the id150-1x8, the cathode of pixels 1, 3, 5 and 7 are connected together to Vop1 pad, while the cathode of pixels 2, 4, 6 and 8 are connected to Vop2 pad. Each cathode is linked to VDD through a polysilicon resistor Rq. Prior to the detection of a photon on a pixel, the switch is open (non-conducting) and the cathode is at VDD. When a photon strikes the diode, the voltage drop induced on the cathode is sensed by the active quenching circuit. The corresponding output pin OUTi switches to VDD. The feedback circuit closes the switch: the diode is biased below its breakdown voltage resulting in the avalanche quenching. The diode is then kept below breakdown and the recharge takes place with the opening of the switch. The full cycle is defined as the pixel dead time. In any single photon avalanche diode, thermally generated carriers induce false counts, called dark counts. A singlestage thermoelectric cooler (TEC) allows one to cool the device to reduce the dark count rate. Furthermore, the photon detection probability in a single photon avalanche diode depends on the excess bias voltage. 2 ac t i v e q u en c h i n g c i r c u i t s 1x 8 SPA D ar r ay 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ac t i v e q u en c h i n g c i r c u i t s The breakdown voltage being temperature dependent, it is often crucial to keep the sensor at a constant temperature. The thermistor included in the id150-1x8 allows one to implement a temperature control circuit. For efficient cooling, an additional heat-sink combined with a air fan must be added by the user. The heat-sink can either surround the TO8 header or be fixed using the UNC 4-40 thread. B L OCK DIA GRA M OUT1 OUT2 OUT3 OUT4 OUT5 OUT6 OUT7 OUT8 VDD Rq Rq AQC Rq AQC Rq AQC Rq Rq AQC AQC Rq AQC Rq AQC AQC GND VOP1 VOP2 TEC TEC(-) TEC(+) R(T) THERM(2) ID Qu an t i q u e SA 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 THERM(1) [email protected] Boston Electronics (800)347-5445 or [email protected] SPECIFICATIONS Wavelength range 350 Pixel active area Ty p i c al Un i t s 900 nm 70k µm 60k µm ps 50k 40x40 Center-to-center pitch Timing resolution [FWHM] 1 Single-photon detection probability (SPDE) 60 40 2 60 at 400nm 15 18 % at 500nm 30 35 % at 600nm 20 25 % at 700nm 15 18 % at 800nm 5 7 % at 900nm 3 4 % Dark count rate (DCR) 1 DCR / channel 15 kHz Mean DCR over the 8 channels 3.5 kHz Afterpulsing probability 3 Output pulse width 40 Output pulse amplitude (in high impedance) 45 3 % 50 ns VDD Output driver capability 4 Deadtime VDD supply voltage VOP supply voltage 4.8 -24 Storage temperature -40 5.0 1 Ti m i n g Res o l u t i o n Max Co u n t s [ H z ] Mi n 40k 20k 0 0.0 70 °C 2.0 2.5 3.0 60k 40k V V 1.5 70k mA 5.2 -26 1.0 2 IRF Sh i f t w i t h Ou t p u t Co u n t Rat e 50k ns 0.5 Ti m e [ n s ] V 50 FWHM Ti m i n g Res o l u t i o n 40p s 30k 10k Co u n t s [ Hz] Par am et er 30k 20k 10k 0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 Ti m e [ n s ] 3 A f t er p u l s i n g Measured at 273K with VOP = -25.5V 8 7 A u t o c o r r el at i o n Fu n c t i o n 1 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0.1 1 10 100 1000 Ti m e [ µs ] Typical autocorrelation function of a constant laser signal, recorded at a count rate of 10kHz. ID Qu an t i q u e SA 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] Boston Electronics (800)347-5445 or [email protected] DIMENSIONA L OUTL INE (i n m m ) A ND PINOUT TO8 - 16pins header 8 7 6 5 9 4 10 3 11 2 12 1 TOP VIEW pin # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 silicon chip including 8 single photon avalanche diodes and active quenching circuits ∅ 11.1 +/-0.2 ∅ 15.3 +/-0.2 ∅ 14.0 +/-0.2 printed circuit board glued on top of a 1-stage TEC - Window material: glass - Pin material: gold plated 9.50 +/-0.25 1.50 +/-0.30 0.25 +/-0.15 0.88 +/-0.15 13 14 15 16 c o n n ec t i o n TEC(-) t h er m i s t o r t h er m i s t o r TEC(+) OUT8 OUT6 OUT4 OUT2 VOP2 V DD GND VOP1 OUT1 OUT3 OUT5 OUT7 Rec o m m en d ed Fo o t p r i n t ∅ 0.43 1.90 6.50 > 3.0 9.50 0.70 THERMOEL ECTRIC COOL ER SPECIFICATIONS Par am et er 3.50 UNC4-40 +/-0.05 Un i t THERMOSENSOR SPECIFICATIONS Val u e (c o n d i t i o n s ) Par am et er Un i t Val u e (c o n d i t i o n s ) Maximum Current Imax A 1.15 +/- 0.02 (at ∆Tmax) Resistance R0 kΩ 2.2 +/- 0.16 at 293K Maximum Voltage Drop Umax V 2.90 +/- 0.07 (at ∆Tmax) Beta Constant β K-1 2918.9 +/- 5% Maximum Delta-T ∆tmax K 69.0 +/- 2.0 (Vacuum, Q=0, Tr=300K) Maximum Cooling Capacity Qmax W 1.85 +/- 0.01 (at ∆T=0) The thermistor resistance can be calculated by: RT = R293K*exp(β(293-T)/(293*T) MOUNTING DETA IL S TEC mounting Thermosensor mounting Wire mounting ID Qu an t i q u e SA soldering, 117°C epoxy glue soldering, 183°C 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] Boston Electronics (800)347-5445 or [email protected] A CCESSORIES To accelerate integration of the id150-1x8 in an optical set-up, the following accessories are available. id150-1x8-TM option: The id150-1x8-TM consists of a id150-1x8 welded on a 47.8mmx36.8mm printed circuit board. Required decoupling capacitances are mounted on the PCB bottom side, close to id150-1x8 pins. A heat sink is glued around the id150-1x8 TO8 package. Electrical connections are provided by 4 straight pin headers. Each 4-poles header consists of 0.63mmx0.63mm gold-plated pins with 2.54mm pitch. The recommended footprint and pinout are given below. unit: millimeters 47.8 45.3 27.7 25.2 22.6 20.1 9 8 7 6 5 13 14 15 16 1 36.8 34.3 22.3 19.7 Vo p 1 GND VDD Vo p 2 2 11 12 4 3 10 17.2 TEC(-) t h er m i s t o r t h er m i s t o r TEC(+) 2.4 14.6 OUT7 OUT5 OUT3 OUT1 2.4 3.5 1.2 [16x] OUT8 OUT6 OUT4 OUT2 i d 150-1x 8-TM i d 150-1x 8-TM r ec o m m en d ed f o o t p r i n t i d 150-1x 8-TM p i n o u t The outputs are provided at SMB-type connectors. For Vop, GND, VDD, OUT1 OUT3 OUT5 The id150-1x8-TM is provided with the id150-1x8-EVA evaluation board of 66mmx107mm in size. The id150-1x8-TM is inserted on the id1501x8-EVA board using four 4-poles sockets. Assembly marks ensure a proper insertion. O UT 7 id150-1x8-EVA option: TEC(-) TEC(+), TEC(-) and thermistor, 4mm banana connectors are used. t h er m i s t o r The bias voltages Vop1 and Vop2 can be disconnected by removing the t h er m i s t o r Vop1&2 GND VDD TEC(+) corresponding jumpers . i d 150-1x 8-EVA ID Qu an t i q u e SA OUT2 OUT4 OUT6 OUT8 Vo p 1 & Vo p 2 j u m p er s as s em b l y m ar k s 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] Boston Electronics (800)347-5445 or [email protected] OTHER PRODUCTS id101-20 and id101-50: OEM single photon detection module with 20µm/50µm active area for the visible spectral range id101-MMF50: OEM fiber-coupled single photon detection module for the visible spectral range id100-20 and id100-50: Single photon detection module with 20µm/50µm active area for the visible spectral range id100-MMF50: Single photon detection module with multimode fiber input for the visible spectral range id201: Single photon counting module for the spectral range between 900 and 1700 nm id300: Sub-nanosecond laser source at 1310 or 1550 nm id400: Single photon counting module for the spectral range between 900 and 1150 nm (optimized for 1064nm) Quantis: Quantum Random Number Generator Clavis2: Quantum Key Distribution for R&D applications Cerberis: High speed layer-2 encryption with Quantum Key Distribution technology Centauris: High speed multi-protocol layer 2 encryptors ORDERING INFORMATION id150-1x8: id150-1x8-TM: id150-1x8-EVA: TO8 head including 8 independent single-photon detectors with 40x40µm2 active area and 60µm center-to-center pitch. id150-1x8 mounted on a printed circuit board including heatsink and decoupling capacitances. id150-1x8-TM and evaluation electronic board with connectors. Di s c l ai m er The information and specification set forth in this document are subject to change at any time by ID Quantique without prior notice. Copyright© 2008-2010 ID Quantique SA - All rights reserved - id150 v4.0 - Specifications as of March 2010 ID Qu an t i q u e SA 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] REDEFINING PRECISION id210 ADVANCED SYSTEM FOR SINGLE PHOTON DETECTION The id210 brings a major breakthrough for single photon detection at telecom wavelengths. Its performance in high-speed gating at internal or external frequencies up to 100MHz by far surpasses the performance of existing detectors and of its predecessor, the id200-id201, that has been used by researchers around the globe since first launched in 2002. Photons can be detected with probability up to 25% at 1550nm, while maintaining low dark count rate. A timing resolution lower than 200ps can be achieved. The id210 provides adjustable delays, adjustable gate duration from 0.5ns to 25ns and adjustable deadtime up to 100us. For applications requiring an asynchronous detection scheme, the id210 can operate in free-running mode with detection probability up to 10%. Beside performance, a particular effort has been made for providing a practical user interface, universal compatibility with scientific equipment, applicationoriented functionalities including statistics and coincidence counting. Built around an advanced embeddedPC and FPGA, the id210 allows remote control, connection of external screen and keyboard, data export on USB key and setups saving. KEY FEATURES Up to 100MHz external / internal gating frequency Asynchronous detection mode (free-running) Free gating mode Adjustable photon detection probability Adjustable delays, gate width and deadtime Universal Inputs/Outputs Two-channel auxiliary event counter APPLICATIONS Auxiliary coincidence counter Quantum optics, quantum cryptography Setup storage in internal memory Fiber optics characterization Real time statistics, sound alarms Single-photon source characterization 5.7" VGA TFT-LED color display Failure analysis of electronic circuits Data export through USB memory Eye-safe Laser Ranging (LIDAR) VGA HD15 output for external monitor / projector Spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy Ethernet remote control (or USB with adapter) Stand alone application and Labview Vi Photoluminescence Singlet oxygen measurement SMF or MMF optical input Fluorescence, fluorescence life time ID Quantique SA Chemin de la Marbrerie 3 1227 Carouge/Geneva Switzerland T +41 22 301 83 71 F +41 22 301 83 79 [email protected] www.idquantique.com co 1 Block Diagram BLOCK DIAGRAM Threshold Trigger Relay Trigger High Level Clock Internal Clock Generator Comp. Trigger Coupling Trigger Slope/Logic Trigger Logic Clock Frequency 50W Trigger Input HF Clock Counter Pulse Shaping Trigger Trigger Delay Load Gate Width Mode Trigger input block HF Gate Counter Dead Time DC High / Free-running DC Low / Disabled Internal Reset Mode Threshold Clock output block High Level Gate Reset/Enable Comp. R/E Slope/Logic Pulse ID Reset Mode Reset/Enable input block Pulse ID Mode Buffer Gate Gate Output 50W Low Level Gate HF Counter Detection Reset Internal Reset Polarization Reset/Enable Logic Gate Reset/Enable 50W Relay Reset/Enable Clock Output 50W Internal Reset Polarization Trigger Reset/Enable Input Buffer Clock Low Level Clock Load System hardware Gate output block Threshold Aux1 Comp. Aux1 Relay Aux1 Slope/Logic Aux1 Pulse Shaping Aux1 50W Aux1 Input HF Counter Aux1 High Level Detection1 Pulser Electronics Internal Reset Width Detection1 Logic Detection1 Buffer Detection 1 Detection 1 Output 50W Low Level Detection1 Load Pulse Shaping Aux1&Aux2 Polarization Aux1 HF Counter Aux1&Aux2 Cooled APD Aux1 input block Quenching Electronics Detection 1 output block Internal Reset Threshold Aux2 Comp. Aux2 Relay Aux2 Slope/Logic Aux2 50W Aux2 Input Pulse Shaping Aux2 HF Counter Aux2 Capture Electronics Internal Reset APD bias control Efficiency Optical Input Polarization Aux2 Aux2 input block 2-channel event counter / coincidence counter cooled APD & associated electronic HF Detection Counter HF Counter Detection Reset High Level Detection2 Width Detection2 Logic Detection2 Buffer Detection2 Detection 2 Output 50W Low Level Detection2 Load Detection 2 output block PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION The id210 Advanced System for Single Photon Detection is built around the following blocks: Trigger, Reset/Enable, Aux1 and Aux2 inputs blocks with SMA connectors on the id210 front panel. Through the id210 user interface, each input can be set independently for receiving LVTTL-LVCMOS, NIM, NECL, PECL3.3V or PECL5V signals. A VAR mode is also provided with a large input voltage range, an adjustable threshold and slope/logic definition. AC/DC coupling selection is possible for the Trigger input. (see Inputs Specifications on page 6 for more details). Clock, Gate, Detection1 and Detection2 outputs blocks with SMA connectors on the id210 front panel. Through the id210 user interface, each output can be set independently for providing LVTTL-LVCMOS, NIM, NECL, PECL3.3V or PECL5V signals. The user can also switch to VAR mode in which the pulse width, the logic definition, the high and low signal levels and the load can be adjusted. (see Outputs Specifications on page 6 for more details). an avalanche photodiode and associated electronics.The key component at the heart of the id210 is a cooled InGaAs fiber-coupled avalanche photodiode (APD). The fiber (single mode or multi-mode) is connectorized to a FC/PC connector on the id210 front panel. The APD terminals are connected to: - a DC high voltage controlled by the system to reach the efficiency set through the id210 interface, - a Pulser Electronics that produces constant amplitude pulses for operation in single photon regime. ID Quantique SA Chemin in de la Marbrerie 3 1227 Carouge/Geneva Switzerland T +41 22 301 83 71 F +41 22 301 83 79 [email protected] www.idquantique.com com 2 The Capture Electronics detects the avalanche events (resulting from photon absorption or dark generation) and feeds the Detection 1&2 outputs blocks and the HF (high frequency) detection counter. The Quenching Electronics inhibits the pulser until avalanche quenching. the System hardware The system hardware allows the id210 operation in internal gated, external gated, free-running or free-gating modes. Internal-gating mode: The APD is biased above breakdown during gates of adjustable Width and Frequency. Internal gating is a synchronous mode based on a clock provided by the internal clock generator. The 50% duty cycle clock signal is available at the Clock Output and counted by the HF Clock Counter. A user-adjustable Trigger Delay can be set between the Clock and the Gate signals. A gate of Width set by user is open on the rising edge of the delayed trigger. As consequence of an avalanche event within the gate, the HF Detection Counter is incremented and a pulse of adjustable Width is outputted at Detection1 and Detection2 connectors. The Quenching Electronics closes the gate and, if selected by the user, a Dead Time is applied resulting in one or several blanked pulses after a detection. The HF Gate Counter provides an exact count of the effective gates seen by the APD. Internal gated mode 1/Internal Gating Frequency Clock Output Dead Time Trigger Delay ate dg nke Gate Width bla Gate Output Quenching Width Detection 1&2 Detection 1&2 Outputs +1 HF Clock Counter +1 +1 HF Gate Counter +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 HF Detection Counter External-gating mode: The operation in external gating mode is very similar to the internal gating mode except that the clock is provided by the user at the Trigger input. External gated mode Trigger Input Dead Time Trigger Delay ate dg nke Gate Width bla Gate Output Quenching Width Detection 1&2 Detection 1&2 Outputs HF Clock Counter HF Gate Counter +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 HF Detection Counter ID Quantique SA Chemin in de la Marbrerie 3 +1 1227 Carouge/Geneva Switzerland T +41 22 301 83 71 F +41 22 301 83 79 [email protected] www.idquantique.com com 3 W Free-running mode (asynchronous mode): NE A DC control signal travels through multiplexers and the Dead Time stage and sets the Pulser Electronics to High. Until photon absorption or dark count generation, the APD is biased above its breakdown voltage in Geiger mode. The Gate Output that reflects the APD state (i.e. On:photosensitive or Off:blind) is at high level. When an avalanche takes place in the APD, it is sensed by the Capture Electronics. A pulse of adjustable Width is produced on Detection1 and Detection2 outputs, the Detection HF Counter is incremented and the Quenching Electronics stops the avalanche. For limiting afterpulsing, the APD is maintained below breakdown until the end of the Dead Time. In this mode, the HF Gate Counter and HF Detection Counter rates are equal. Free-running mode (asynchronous) Dead Time Gate Output Quenching Quenching Quenching Width Detection 1&2 Detection 1&2 Outputs +1 HF Gate Counter HF Detection Counter +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 W Free-gating mode: NE The user feeds an electrical signal at the Reset/Enable input. The signal, after transit in the input block, passes through multiplexers and the Dead Time stage. When no avalanche occurs, the Gate Output that reflects the APD state (On/Off) is identical to the Reset/Enable input signal. When an avalanche occurs during a gate, a pulse of adjustable Width is produced at Detection1 and Detection2 outputs, the Detection HF Counter is incremented and the Quenching Electronics stops the gate. When a Dead Time is applied for limiting the afterpulsing, the Gate signal remains at low level whatever the Reset/Enable state. This results in blanked gate(s) or partially blanked gates. The HF Gate Counter provides the effective gates rate applied to the APD. Free-gating mode Reset/Enable Input Dead Time e d nke gat bla Gate Output Quenching ked lan yb tiall ar te p ga Quenching Quenching Width Detection 1&2 Detection 1&2 Outputs HF Gate Counter HF Detection Counter +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 A two-channel event counter and a coincidence counter as an auxiliary independent block. The signals outputted by Aux1 and Aux2 inputs blocks feed HF Counter Aux1 and HF Counter Aux2 after pulse shaping. The block also performs a logic AND of the two inputs that feeds a coincidence counter: HF Counter Aux1&Aux2. Aux1 Input Aux2 Input Aux1&Aux2 HF Counter Aux1 HF Counter Aux2 HF Counter Aux1&Aux2 ID Quantique SA Chemin in de la Marbrerie 3 1227 Carouge/Geneva Switzerland +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 T +41 22 301 83 71 F +41 22 301 83 79 +1 +1 +1 +1 [email protected] www.idquantique.com com 4 SPECIFICATIONS Parameter Min Wavelength range 900 Optical fiber type Typical Max Units 1700 nm 1 SMF or MMF Efficiency range (except free-running mode) Efficiency range in free-running mode 5 1 1 4 3 25 2 2.5 % % Deadtime range 0.1 Deadtime step 100 us 200 ps 100 MHz 100 Timing resolution at max. efficiency (25%) 2 External trigger frequency Internal trigger frequency 30 2.5 ns 1,2,5,10,20,50,100,200,500 kHz 1,2,5,10,20,50,100 MHz Effective gate width range 0.5 Gate width resolution 25 ns 20 ns 10 Trigger delay range Trigger delay resolution +10 Dimensions LxWXH Optical connector 0 900 kg 230 VAC Cooling time 7 InGaAs/InP APD 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 Wavelength [nm] mm 8.2 10% 5 FC/PC 110 10 °C 387x256x167 Power supply 15 ps +30 Weight 20 ps 10 Operating temperature 25% 25 Efficiency [%] Efficiency resolution (all modes) 10 Calibrated at l =1550nm 1 Efficiency versus wavelength at 10% and 25% levels (l =1550nm) 4 30% Quantum Efficiency at 1550 nm version available on request (Dark Count Rate to be discussed) min Telcordia GR-468-CORE 2 A 20MHz trigger rate limited version is also available. The id210 can be later on remotely upgraded to 100MHz. 3 A version of the id210 without free-running mode is also available. IDQ´s SMF modules are available in three grades: Standard (STD) and Ultra-Low Noise (ULN) and Ultra-Ultra Low Noise (UULN), depending on dark count rate specifications. Dark count rate for a 1ns effective gate width in gated mode: Freq.=100kHz, no deadtime Freq.=100MHz, deadtime=10m s 10% efficiency 25% efficiency id210-SMF-A 0.4Hz 2Hz id210-SMF-B 1Hz id210-SMF-C id210-MMF Model 10% efficiency 25% efficiency 0.4kHz 2kHz 5Hz 1kHz 5kHz 6Hz 30Hz 6kHz 30kHz 8Hz 40Hz 8kHz 40kHz 4 4 Dark count rate (maximum values) in free-running mode with 50m s deadtime: 2.5% efficiency 5% efficiency 7.5% efficiency 10% efficiency id210-SMF-A 1kHz 1.5kHz 2.2kHz 3kHz id210-SMF-B 1kHz 1.5kHz 2.2kHz 3kHz id210-SMF-C 6.5kHz 9kHz 11.5kHz 13.5kHz id210-MMF 7.5kHz 10kHz 12.5kHz 14.5kHz Model ID Quantique SA Chemin in de la Marbrerie 3 1227 Carouge/Geneva Switzerland Note that the effective gate width is evaluated by measuring the full width at half-maximum of the histogram of time interval between the gate signal (start) and the detection signal (stop) in the dark. This provides a true evaluation of the dark count rate in contrast with dark count rate assessment based on the gate electrical signal. To take into account the electrical signal width always leads to a huge underestimation of the DCR. Please contact IDQ for more details about the assessment of the dark count rate in gated mode. T +41 22 301 83 71 F +41 22 301 83 79 [email protected] www.idquantique.com com 5 Block Diagram INPUTS SPECIFICATIONS Parameter Min Typical Frequency (Aux1, Aux2) Frequency (Reset/Enable, Trigger) Pulse duration 500 Voltage range in VAR mode -2.5 Max Units 300 MHz 100 MHz ps +2.5 Impedance V 50 Pulse amplitude 1 For NECL, PECL3.3V and PECL5V, the id210 input provides standard termination scheme (NECL: 50W to -2V, PECL3.3V: 50W to +1.3V, PECL5V: 50W to +3V). W +0.1 +5 Coupling (Trigger) 2 The Inputs parameters or Predefined Standards are included in setup files that can be saved on internal memory. V DC or AC Coupling (Aux1, Aux2, Reset/Enable) DC Threshold voltage range in VAR mode -2.5 +2.5 Threshold voltage resolution in VAR mode 1 Predefined standards V +10 2 mV LVTTL/LVCMOS - NIM - NECL - PECL3.3V - PECL5V Connectors SMA Protection ESD OUTPUTS SPECIFICATIONS Parameter Min High level voltage range (high Z to ground) High level voltage range (50W to ground) Low level voltage range (high Z to ground) Low level voltage range (50W to ground) Voltage swing (high Z to ground) Voltage swing (50W to ground) 1 3 1 3 2 4 Typical -2.0 Max Units +7.0 V -1.0 +3.5 V -3.0 +5.0 V -1.5 +2.5 V +0.1 +7.0 V +3.5 V +0.05 Logic 1 Starting with a Predefined Standard, all the parameters can be modified by the user. 2 The Outputs parameters or Predefined Standards are included in setup files that can be saved on internal memory. + or - Short pulse width (Detection1, Detection2) 4.5 5 5.5 ns Large pulse width (Detection1, Detection2) 90 100 110 ns Rise/fall times at 5V swing (10%-90%) 1 Predefined standards 2.5 2 ns LVTTL/LVCMOS - NIM - NECL - PECL3.3V - PECL5V Connectors SMA Protection ESD High level [V] + 10 High Z to ground + 7 Max. Voltage swing [V] High level [V] Voltage swing [V] + 4 High Z to ground 50W to ground Max. + 9 + 6 + 3 + 8 + 5 + 5 50W to ground + 4 + 7 + 4 + 2 + 6 + 3 + 3 + 5 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 4 + 1 + 3 0 0 Min. -2 -1 Min. + 1 -1 0 0 -2 -3 + 1 Low level [V] + 2 Low level [V] -1 0 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 1 Low level and high level voltage ranges when the output is loaded at high impedance to ground. ID Quantique SA Chemin in de la Marbrerie 3 -3 -2 2 -1 0 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 Low level [V] Minimum and maximum voltage swings when the output is loaded at high impedance to ground. 1227 Carouge/Geneva Switzerland -2 -1 0 + 1 + 2 + 3 -1 0 + 1 + 2 Low level [V] 3 Low level and high level voltage ranges when the output is loaded at 50W to ground. T +41 22 301 83 71 F +41 22 301 83 79 4 Minimum and maximum voltage swings when the output is loaded at 50W to ground. [email protected] www.idquantique.com com 6 USER INTERFACE - DATA & SETUP RECOVERY All the user parameters are intuitively adjustable with direct access buttons (Detector, Inputs/Outputs, Display, System, Setups and Acquisition), submenus control buttons and the control wheel on the id210 front panel. optical window for automatic backlight intensity adjustement 5.7" VGA TFT-LED color display submenu control buttons direct access buttons control wheel id210 - Advanced System for Single Photon Detection Detector Inputs/Outputs Display Help System Start/Stop help access start/stop button Setups FC/PC optical fiber input Acquisition USB Power Aux 1 Aux 2 Trigger Reset/Enable Clock Inputs ON/OFF power button with status LED Inputs/Outputs SMA connectors and indicating LEDs Gate Detection 1 Detection 2 Outputs USB connectors (keyboard, storage key) The bicolor indicating LEDs associated to SMA connectors inputs or outputs provide relevant informations such as valid triggers, pulses traffic at the outputs or unused inputs/outputs in the selected mode. Two USB connectors on the front panel can be used for connecting a keyboard or for data export on a storage key. The backlight intensity is adjusted automatically. The id210 is equipped with a buzzer that can be optionally used for indicating, for instance, the end of the cooling phase. On the rear panel, Ethernet and USB connectors can be used for remote control. A VGA HD-15 connector for external monitor/projector is accessible as well on the rear panel. The id210 contains 6 HF counters providing the Detection, Clock, Gate, Aux1, Aux2 and Aux1&Aux2 coincidence rates. The id210 displays indicators associated to counters. Up to 5 different views can be set, saved and restored. A view defines the number of indicators displayed simultaneously (selected between 1 and 4) and the counter associated to each indicator. REMOTE CONTROL (OPTIONAL) A stand-alone application allowing you to control your id210, to plot graphics and to export measurements of counters remotely is delivered. No additional program is necessary to drive the id210. The remote control "id210 Front panel" application, built using Labview, is delivered with its Labview Vi file - thus, you can modify the remote control application if you own a Labview license from National Instruments. Additionally, a command reference guide is provided, enabling you to write your own remote control application in any programming language such as C or C++. ID Quantique SA Chemin in de la Marbrerie 3 1227 Carouge/Geneva Switzerland T +41 22 301 83 71 F +41 22 301 83 79 [email protected] www.idquantique.com com 7 REDEFINING PRECISION id220-FR COST-EFFECTIVE MODULE FOR ASYNCHRONOUS SINGLE PHOTON DETECTION AT TELECOM WAVELENGTHS The id220-FR brings a major breakthrough for single photon detection in free-running mode at telecom wavelengths. It provides a cost-effective solution for applications in which asynchronous photon detection is essential. The cooled InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode and associated electronics have been specially designed for achieving low dark count and afterpulsing rates in free-running mode. The module can operate at three detection probability levels of 10%, 15% and 20% with a deadtime that can be set between 1m s and 25m s. Arrival time of photons is reflected by a 100ns LVTTL pulse available at the SMA connector with a timing resolution as low as 250ps at 20% efficiency. A simple USB interface allows the user to set the efficiency level and the deadtime. A standard FC/PC connector followed by a single mode fiber is provided as optical input. The id220-FR comes with a +12V 60W adapter . le v NE in F M !M t pu a a lso b aila W KEY FEATURES APPLICATIONS Asynchronous detection mode (free-running) Quantum optics, quantum cryptography 10%-15%-20% photon detection probability levels Fiber optics characterization 1m s-25m s adjustable deadtime Single-photon source characterization Timing resolution as low as 250ps Failure analysis of electronic circuits Low dark and afterpulsing rates Eye-safe Laser Ranging (LIDAR) SMF or MMF optical input Spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy 100ns LVTTL output pulse at SMA connector Photoluminescence Singlet oxygen measurement Fluorescence, fluorescence life time ID Quantique SA Chemin de la Marbrerie 3 1227 Carouge/Geneva Switzerland T +41 22 301 83 71 F +41 22 301 83 79 [email protected] www.idquantique.com co 1 In contrast with usual gated operation of detectors based on InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes (APDs), the id220-FR operates in free-running (asynchronous) mode. The APD is biased above its breakdown voltage in the so-called Geiger mode. Upon photon absorption, the photon arrival time is reflected by the rising edge of a 100ns width LVTTL pulse at the output.The id220-FR has been designed for providing a fast avalanche quenching, thus limiting the afterpulsing rate. This allows the operation at reasonably short deadtimes of values that can be optimized depending on the applications and the efficiency level. Free-running mode (asynchronous) Photon arrival Time [0 to ¥ s] No detection ! Detector is OFF Avalanche Detection Detection 100ns Detection Output Pulse 100ns Detection Output Pulse Detection Output Quenching Quenching ON Dead Time [1 to 25m s] APD State Dead Time [1 to 25m s] OFF SPECIFICATIONS Parameter Min Wavelength range 900 3 Optical fiber type Efficiency range Typical 1 Dark count rate (10us deadtime) Max Units 1700 nm 1 Calibrated at l =1.55 µm. 2 SMF or MMF 10, 15 or 20 % 2 SMF 10% 15% 20% efficiency 1 / 2.5 / 5 kHz MMF 10% 15% 20% efficiency 1.2 / 3 / 6 kHz Timing resolution (FWHM) 10% 15% 20% efficiency Deadtime range 400 / 300 / 250 1 25 Deadtime step Weight m s LVTTL / 100ns width 4 Output connector Operating temperature m s 1 Detection output pulse Dimensions LxWXH ps Typical DCR versus Deadtime at 10%, 15% and 20% efficiencies. SMA +10 +30 °C 230x110x120 mm 2.5 Optical connector kg FC/PC 60W AC/DC +12V green power adapter Input voltage Frequency range AC current Cooling time 90~264 VAC - 135~370VDC 47~63 Hz 1.4A/115VAC 1A/230VAC 3 min 3 Single Mode Fibre SMF28, Numerical Aperture = 0.14 or Multi Mode Fibre with a 62.5um core diameter, Numerical Aperture = 0.275 4 SMA Female connector: Male body (outside threads) with female inner hole. ID Quantique SA Chemin in de la Marbrerie 3 1227 Carouge/Geneva Switzerland T +41 22 301 83 71 F +41 22 301 83 79 [email protected] www.idquantique.com com 2 SOFTWARE The id220-FR comes with a software that allows the user to set the efficiency level and the deadtime through a simple USB interface. The module can also operate disconnected from the PC. The settings are reloaded upon each power up. ACCESSORY - OPTIONAL PULSE SHAPER IDQ provides as an option a pulse shaper (A-PPID) which can be used with devices requiring negative input pulses. The leading edge of the id220 output pulse is converted into a sharp negative pulse with typical amplitudes of 1.4V for a 50W load and 2.5V for a high impedance load. The pulse shaper comes with two SMA/BNC adapters. Ordering information: idacc-A-PPI-D Pulse shaper Typical output pulse of an id220 Typical output pulse of an id220 equipped with a A-PPI-D pulse equipped with a A-PPI-D pulse shaper shaper in 50W load. in high impedance load. ACCESSORY - OPTIONAL SMA ELECTRICAL CABLE To connect your id220 to other devices, such as the pulse shaper (A-PPI-D) or certain acquisition card (SPC-130 from Becker & Hickl), IDQ recommends this SMA Male / SMA Male Cable. SMA Male means Female body (inside threads) with male inner pin (see picture) Ordering information: idacc-SMA-SMA-1m SMA Male to SMA Male electrical Cable ACCESSORY - METALLIC OPTICAL FIBRE The standard optical patchcord can be transparent. Unwanted photons from the ambient environment can pass by the cladding of the fiber and so perturbate your measurement. The metallic jacket fiber is delivered with FC/PC connectors Ordering information: idacc-SMF-Steel-2m idacc-MMF-Steel-2m ID Quantique SA Chemin in de la Marbrerie 3 1227 Carouge/Geneva Switzerland SMF28 fiber and length 2m. core diameter 62.5um and length 2m. T +41 22 301 83 71 F +41 22 301 83 79 [email protected] www.idquantique.com com 3 Boston Electronics (800)347-5445 or [email protected] REDEFINING PRECISION id400 SERIES SINGL E-PHOTON DETECTOR FOR 1064NM The id400 single photon detection module consists of a detection head and a control unit. The detection head is built around a cooled InGaAsP/InP avalanche photodiode (APD) optimized for 1064nm single-photon detection and a fast sensing and quenching electronic circuit. Single-photon detection efficiency can be adjusted at three preset levels and the detector can be operated both in free running or gated modes. The control unit performs APD temperature control and regulation, power supply, gate generation and dead time setting. It also includes BNC connectors for input-output signals and a USB interface. The detector is controlled using a LabVIEW virtual instrument, which offers intuitive menus and a graphical interface. The id400 includes invaluable functions, such as an adjustable deadtime or electronic delay lines, which allow the optimization of its performance and make it a simple tool to use. K EY FEATURES A PPL ICATIONS Adjustable detection probability up to 30% Free-space optical communications Gated or free running modes Satellite laser ranging Internal or external gated modes Atmospheric research and meteorology Adjustable gate width from 500ps to 2µs Laser range finder Adjustable deadtime up to 100µs Free-space quantum cryptography Adjustable internal clock up to 4MHz Quantum optics Adjustable delays up to 1µs by steps of 50ps Spectroscopy Internal counters ID Qu an t i q u e SA 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] om Boston Electronics (800)347-5445 or [email protected] PRINCIPL E OF OPERATION The id400 is a complete single photon counting system based on a cooled InGaAsP/InP avalanche photodiode (APD) optimized for 1064nm. The APD temperature is set to -40°C upon assembly to optimize the id400 overall performance. The id400 offers advanced functionalities, including: Fr ee-r u n n i n g , i n t er n al g at i n g o r ex t er n al g at i n g m o d es : In n f r ee-r u n n i n g o r as y n c h r o n o u s m o d e, the APD is biased above the breakdown voltage in the so-called Geiger mode. Upon a photon arrival (or a dark count generation), an avalanche takes place in the APD. The avalanche is sensed by the id400 and reflected at Detection OUT by the rising edge of a TTL pulse. The id400 pulser provides a fast avalanche quenching required to limit the afterpulsing rate. The operating voltage is then restored at the end of the dead time and the id400 is ready to detect a subsequent photon. In g at i n g o r s y n c h r o n o u s m o d e, a voltage pulse is applied to raise the bias above APD breakdown voltage upon triggering. The gating can be either internal or external. The APD is only active during gates. The gating mode is used in applications where the arrival time of the photon is known. It allows a reduction of the dark count rate. A d j u s t ab l e s i n g l e p h o t o n d et ec t i o n p r o b ab i l i t y l ev el . In any avalanche photodiode, the single photon detection probability increases with the excess bias voltage (difference between operating and breakdown voltages). The timing resolution is also improved at high excess bias voltages. On the other hand, the dark count and afterpulsing rates increase with the excess bias voltage. The id400 provides three levels of single photon detection probability (7.5 %, 15% and 30%, measured at 1064nm). A d j u s t ab l e d ead t i m e. At high gating frequencies or when operated in free-running mode, afterpulsing may significantly deteriorate performances. To suppress detrimental afterpulsing effects, the id400 includes a deadtime (1µs to100µs by step of 1µs). In deadtime mode, the id400 monitors the effective gate rate. Gat e g en er at o r (for internal gating mode) with adjustable gate duration (500ps to 2µs by step of 10ps) and frequency (1Hz to 4MHz). El ec t r o n i c d el ay s (for internal gating mode) between Reference OUT(clock signal) and Gate OUT and between Reference OUT(clock signal) and the actual detector gate for simple detector synchronization. In t er n al c o u n t er s , whose results are displayed on the Labview Virtual Instrument monitor detection and effective gate rates. For each detection, the module also produces a TTL pulse available on the id400 control unit front panel BNC connector. All the user-adjustable parameters can be easily set using the Labview Virtual Instrument. They can also be stored by the control unit for operation without PC. B L OCK DIA GRA M i d 400 c o n t r o l u n i t +12V Tem p er at u r e Co n t r o l Mi c r o c o n t r o l l er U SB Det .Pr o b a. 7.5/15/30 % FPGA Co u n t er Mo d e f r ee-r u n n i n g i n t . g at i n g ex t . g at i n g Dead Ti m e 1/100u s s t ep 1u s Gat e Wi d t h 500p s /2u s s t ep 10p s In t er n al Gat e Fr eq u en c y Del ay s Ref -Gat e OUT Ref -A c t u al Gat e Po w er /Co n t r o l DB 9 c ab l e Gat e Co m m an d i d 400 d et ec t i o n h ead Pu l s er TE C A PD Gat e OUT Ref er en c e OUT Det ec t i o n OUT Det ec t i o n Ex t er n al Tr i g g er IN ID Qu an t i q u e SA 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] Boston Electronics (800)347-5445 or [email protected] SPECIFICATIONS Par am et er Co n d i t i o n s Wavelength range Mi n Ty p i c al Max 900 Effective optical diameter Single-photon detection probability (SPDE) Un i t s 1150 80 7.5, 15, 30 1 In t er n al Ex t er n al Fr ee Gat i n g Gat i n g Ru n n i n g nm üüü µm % üüü üüü Timing resolution at 7.5% SPDE 2 ps üüü Timing resolution at 15% SPDE 2 Timing resolution at 30% SPDE 2 ps üüü ps üüü Dark count rate at 7.5% SPDE with 20µs deadtime 150 Hz ü Dark count rate at 15% SPDE with 20µs deadtime 400 Hz ü Dark count rate at 30% SPDE with 20µs deadtime 1500 Hz ü 100 µs üüü Adjustable deadtime range 1 Adjustable deadtime step Internal gating frequency (fint gating) 3 1 4 5 1 Gate width (tgate out) 4 4x10 6 5 Gate adjustment step ∆tref out/gate out adjustable delay range 2000 10 3 3 0 ∆tref out/actual gate adjustable delay range Adjustable delay step 0 50 Reference OUT pulse width µs üüü Hz ü ns ü ps ps ü ü ps ps ü ü 8 10 ns ü Reference OUT pulse amplitude (50Ω) 2.3 3.3 V ü Detection OUT pulse width 100 130 ns üü Detection OUT pulse width 90 6 ns Detection OUT pulse amplitude (50Ω) 2.3 3.3 V üüü Gate OUT pulse amplitude (50Ω) 2.3 3.3 V ü 7 ns ü 4x106 10 Hz ns ps ü ü ü V ü Trigger IN pulse width Trigger IN frequency 7 ∆ext trigger/actual gate adjustable delay range Adjustable delay step 1 0 50 External Trigger IN amplitude 1.6 External Trigger IN load 3.8 50 Cooling time Ω at 25°C room temperature 5 Electronic connectors min BNC Detection head dimensions LxWxH Control unit dimensions LxWxH ü ü ü üüü üüü 97x90x36 mm üüü 225x170x50 mm üüü Detection head weight 290 g üüü Control unit weight 1180 g üüü Operating temperature 0 25 °C üüü Storage temperature 0 40 °C üüü 1 Calibrated at 1064nm. 2 Contact IDQ for more information. 5 Uncertainty on internal frequency 2 8 given by (fint gating) / 1.2x10 . For a frequency of 1MHz, uncertainty amounts to 8.333kHz. 6 In internal gating mode, output pulse width depends on photon arrival time, but is less than the gating period 1 / fint gating. 7 3 Maximum delay values versus internal gating frequency 4 Maximum gate width versus internal gating frequency Duty cycle (ton / ton + toff) of external gating signal must be less than 70%. ID Qu an t i q u e SA 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] Boston Electronics L ab VIEW A PPL ICATION (800)347-5445 or [email protected] DETECTION HEA D DIMENSIONA L OUTL INE Supported Operating Systems: Wi n d o w s XP, Wi n d o w s Vi s t a 32 b i t s (i n m m ) 97.0 The id400 detector comes with a id400.exe LabVIEW application operating in two different modes: SMB m o u n t i n g p l at e 63.5 A PD St an d ar d m o d e: adjustment of parameters, display of count rate and effective gate rate. DB 9 SMB A PD Or d er i n g i n f o r m at i o n an d s al es c o n t ac t m o u n t i n g p l at e m o u n t i n g p l at e One M4 hole for mounting on standard post assemblies, 36.0 30.0 A PD The id400 detection head includes a mounting plate with: 4 holes (∅ 6.5mm) with “metric” spacing (75mm and 50mm) for mounting on standard plates or translation stages, m o u n t i n g p l at e 4 holes with “US” spacing (3 and 2 inches) for mounting on standard plates or translation stages. 90.0 M4 m o u n t i n g p l at e 37.5 38.1 A PD 37.5 20.0 30.4 38.1 79.0 30.0 20.4 A c q u i s i t i o n m o d e: plot of the mean detector count rate over the specified integration time. OTHER PRODUCTS id100 id201 id300 Quantis Clavis2 Cerberis Centauris Single photon counting module for the visible spectral range Single photon counting module for the 1100-1700nm spectral range Short pulse laser source Quantum Random Number Generator Quantum Key Distribution System for R&D Layer 2 encryptor with Quantum Key Distribution Layer 2 encryptor SUPPL IED A CCESSORIES ORDERING INFORMATION id400-80-1064 Detector module including: 1 x APD detection head with mounting plate (effective active diameter: 80µm) 1 x Control Unit Composite cable (2m): 2x BNC-SMB, 1x DB9-DB9 USB cable (4.5m) Power supply (12V/2.5A) CD-Rom with User Guide, LabVIEW Run-time Engine Version 7.0, LabVIEW application installer Di s c l ai m er The information and specification set forth in this document are subject to change at any time by ID Quantique without prior notice. Copyright© 2008-2010 ID Quantique SA - All rights reserved - id400 v3.1 - Specifications as of March 2010 ID Qu an t i q u e SA 1227 Carouge/Geneva T +41 22 301 83 71 [email protected] SPAD-8 8-Channel SPAD Module 8-channel SPAD detector module bh multi-dimensional TCSPC technique Interfaces directly to all bh TCSPC systems Simultaneous measurement in all 8 channels 1 x 8 arrangement of detector channels Instrument response width 70 ps FWHM Max. count rate > 5 MHz Thermo-electrically cooled Power supply and control via bh DCC-100 detector controller card The SPAD-8 module contains eight actively quenched SPAD pixels on a single silicon chip. The signals of the SPADs are recorded by a single bh TCSPC module. The module uses bh’s multi-dimensional TCSPC technique. For each photon, the SPAD-8 delivers a timing pulse and the number of the SPAD pixel that detected the photon. The TCSPC module builds up a photon distribution versus time and pixel number, or stores the individual events as time-tag data. The technique avoids any time gating or detector multiplexing and thus achieves a near-ideal counting efficiency. Power supply, SPAD excess-voltage control, an current for the TE cooler are provided by a bh DCC-100 detector controller card. Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 email [email protected] http://www.becker-hickl.com id Quantique [email protected] [email protected] dpspad-8-01.doc Jan. 2010 Boston Electronics Corp [email protected] www.boselec.com SPAD-8 Specifications Number of pixels Pixel arrangement Active area (each pixel) Pixel pitch, centre-centre Optical adapter Spectral response Peak quantum efficiency, 500 nm Channel uniformity Dark count rate, per channel 8 1 by 8 40 x 40 µm 60 µm C mount 350 to 900 nm 35 % 5% < 1000, TE cooler current 0.5A IRF width, fwhm Time skew between Channels Dead time 70 ps (typical value) < 150 ps 50 ns Timing Output Routing Signal Power Supply Dimensions SMA, 50Ω, negative pulse 3 bit + Error Signal, TTL/CMOS From bh DCC-100 card 40 mm ⋅ 40 mm ⋅ 72 mm 60 um 40 um 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 40 um Pixel arrangement 5 C mount 25.4 72 10 40 SMA pulse out Mechanical outline Related Products SPC-130 EM TCSPC modules SPC-150 TCSPC modules SPC-830 TCSPC modules SPC-630 TCSPC modules 40 Dimensions in mm Simple-Tau 130 compact TCSPC systems Simple-Tau 150 compact TCSPC systems Simple-Tau 830 compact TCSPC systems FLIM systems for laser scanning microscopy DCC-100 detector controller PML-SPEC and MW-FLIM multi-wavelength detectors id-100 SPAD detector modules BDL-SMC and BHLP picosecond diode lasers Related Literature W. Becker, Advanced time-correlated single photon counting techniques. Springer 2005. W. Becker, The bh TCSPC Handbook, 466 pages, 503 references. Available on www.becker-hickl.com Please see also www.becker-hickl.com, ‘Literature’, ‘Application notes’ More than 15 years experience in multi-dimensional TCSPC. More than 700 TCSPC systems worldwide. dpspad-8-01.doc Jan. 2010 PMC-100 Cooled High Speed PMT Detector Head for Photon Counting Applicable to Time-Correlated, Steady State and Gated Photon Counting Non-descanned Detector for TCSPC Imaging Excellent TCSPC Instrument Response: < 200 ps FWHM Internal Cooler: Low Dark Count Rate Internal GHz Preamplifier: High Output Amplitude No High Voltage Power Supply Required Excellent Noise Immunity Overload Indicator and TTL / CMOS Overload Output Cooling Control and Overload Shutdown via bh DCC-100 module Direct Interfacing to all bh Photon Counting Devices Standard C Mount Adapter The PMC-100 is a cooled detector head for photon counting applications. It contains a fast miniature PMT along with a Peltier cooler, a high voltage generator, a GHz pulse amplifier and a current sensing circuit. Due to the high gain and bandwidth of the device a single photon yields an output pulse with an amplitude in the range of 50 to 200 mV and a pulse width of 1.5 ns. Due to the high gain and the efficient shielding noise pickup or crosstalk of start and stop signals in time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) experiments is minimised. Therefore the PMC-100 yields an excellent time resolution, a high counting efficiency and an exceptionally low differential nonlinearity. The instrument response function in TCSPC applications has a width of less than 200 ps. Overload conditions are detected by sensing the PMT output current and indicated by a LED, an acaustic signal, and a logical overload signal. The PMC-100 is operated by the bh DCC-100 detecor controller card which delivers the current for the Peltier cooler, controls the detector gain, and shuts down the PMT on overload. TCSPC instrument response function. Gain control voltage 0.9V, PMC-100-0, SPC-630 TCSPC module Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.com email: [email protected] Decrease of dark count rate after switch-on of cooler. PMC-100-1with DCC-100 detector controller, cooling current 0.7 A Note: To avoide restriction of the wavelength range the PMC-100 has no hermetically sealed window. Please make sure that moisture is kept off the photomultiplier cathode by filters, lenses or other window elements inserted directly in front of the device. PMC-100 PMC-100-3 Wavelength Range (nm) 185 to 650 Dark Counts (Icool=0.7A, Tamb = 22 C, typ. value) 20 Cathode Diameter Transit Time Spread / TCSPC IRF width Single Electron Response Width Single Electron Response Amplitude Output Polarity Count Rate (Continuous) Count Rate (Peak, < 100 ns) Overload Indicator Overload Signal Detector Signal Output Connector Output Impedance Power Supply (from DCC-100 Card) Dimensions (width x height x depth) Optical Adapter Fibre Coupling Simple fluorescence lifetime experiment: Trigger Out The arrangement uses a BDL-405 blue picosecond diode laser, a PMC-100 detector module an SPC-630, -730 or -830 time correlated single photon counting module and a DCC-100 detector controller card. (Please see individual data sheets). The instrument response width is typically <180 ps FWHM. Fluorescence lifetimes down to 20 ps can be determined by deconvolution. +12V PMC-100-6 PMC-100-0 185 to 650 20 300 to 650 20 PMC-100-4 PMC-100-1 PMC-100-20 185 to 820 300 to 820 40 40 8 mm 180 ps, FWHM, typ. value 1.5 ns, FWHM, typ. value 50 to 200 mV, Vgain=0.9V negative > 5 MHz > 100 MHz LED and acoustic signal TTL / CMOS, active low SMA 50 Ω + 12 V, -12V (fan only), Peltier Current 0.5 to 1A 76 mm x 111 mm x 56 mm C-Mount female SMA 905, on request Sample 405nm 50 MHz BDL-405 Laser SYNC Lens Filter CFD Detector PMC100 B&H Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting Module SPC-630 or -730 B&H DCC-100 Detector Controller 100 mA/W Fan 10 300 to 900 200 to 500 -20 -6 -1 -4 C Mount female 1 93 -3 -0 10 76 48 Photocathode 20mm behind front edge of C mount adapter 0.1 PMC-100 Cathode Radiant Sensitivity Outlines in millimeters Sub D 34 0.01 200 SMA 50 57 76 Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.com email: [email protected] 300 400 500 600 700 800 900nm Pin Assignment of 15 pin sub-d-hd connector 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 not used Peltier + Peltier + Peltier + GND not used Peltier Peltier - 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 A cable is delivered with the PMC-100 Peltier +12V -12 (Fan) not used Gain Control, 0 to +0.9V /OVLD GND PMH-100 High Speed PMT Detector Head for Photon Counting Applicable for Time-Correlated, Steady State and Gated Photon Counting Non-descanned Detector for TCSPC Imaging Excellent Time Resolution for TCSPC: < 220 ps FWHM Internal GHz Preamplifier: High Output Amplitude PMT Overload Indicator Simple + 12 V Power Supply Direct Interfacing to all bh Photon Counting Devices The PMH-100 is a complete detector head for photon counting applications. It contains a fast PMT, a high voltage generator, a GHz pulse amplifier and a current sensing circuit. Due to the high gain and bandwidth of the device a single photon yields an output pulse with an average amplitude up to 300 mV and a pulse width of 1.5 ns. Therefore, noise pickup or crosstalk of start and stop signals in time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) are reduced and the PMH-100 yields an excellent time resolution, a high count efficiency and a low differential nonlinearity. Overload conditions are detected by sensing the PMT output current and indicated by a LED. PMH-100 Response measured by TimeCorrelated Single Photon Counting 150 ps Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.com email: [email protected] intelligent measurement and control systems PMH-100 PMH-100-3 Transit Time Spread (FWHM, typ. value) Wavelength Range (nm) 185 to 650 Dark Counts (20°C, typ value) 80 Detector Area Diameter Single Electron Response Width (FWHM, typ. value) Single Electron Response Amplitude (average) Output Polarity Count Rate (Continuous) Count Rate (Peak, < 100 ns) Overload Indicator Output Connector Output Impedance Power Supply Dimensions Optical Connection Simple fluorescence lifetime measurement: The arrangement uses a diode laser (BHL-100), the PMH-100 detector module and the SPC330 time correlated single photon counting module (please see individual data sheets). The instrument response is <180 ps FWHM. Fluorescence lifetimes down to 20 ps can be determined by deconvolution. PMH-100-6 PMH-100-0 180 ps 300 to 650 185 to 820 80 400 8 mm 1.5 ns 300 mV negative > 5 MHz > 100 MHz LED SMA 50 Ω + 12 V, 100 mA 92 mm x 38 mm x 31 mm C-Mount female 185 to 650 80 Laser 50 MHz BHL-100 PMH-100-1 300 to 820 400 Sample CFD Trigger Out PMH-100-4 Lens Filter Detector PMH100 SYNC 100 B&H Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting Module SPC-330 trough -730 35 C mount female 6 10 4 3 0 1 useful cathode diameter 39 8 1 72 92 0.1 PMH-100 37 Relative Spectral Response PMT Cathode 0.01 200 300 400 500 600 700 800nm 7 .. 9 55 PMH-100 Outline (mm) GND +12V Power Supply Connector Pin Assignment Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.com email: [email protected] intelligent measurement and control systems PML-16-C 16-Channel Photomultiplier Head 16- channel photomultiplier head for bh time-correlated single photon counting modules 1 x 16 arrangement of detector channels Simultaneous measurement in all 16 channels Instrument response width 150 ps FWHM Max. count rate > 5 MHz Gain control and overload shutdown via bh DCC-100 card No external high voltage required The PML-16-C is based on bh’s proprietary multi-dimensional timecorrelated single photon counting technique. The detector records 16 signals simultaneously into a single TCSPC channel. For each photon, the PML-16C delivers a timing pulse and the number of the PMT channel in which the photon was detected. These signals are fed into the TCSPC module, which builds up the photon distribution versus the time and the channel number. The technique avoids any time gating or channel multiplexing and thus achieves a near-ideal counting efficiency. The PML-16C detector is part of the bh MW-FLIM multi-wavelength FLIM systems and the PML-SPEC multi-wavelength detection systems. Unlike its predecessor, the PML-16, the PML16-C generates the operating voltage of the PMT internally. Power supply, gain control, and overload shutdown are provided by the bh DCC100 detector controller card. Applications: Autofluorescence of biological tissue Time-resolved multi-wavelength laser-scanning microscopy Diffuse optical tomography Autofluorescence of skin FWHM = 150 ps Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 email [email protected] http //www.becker-hickl com Covered by patent DE 43 39 787 PML-16-C Specification Number of Channels Arrangement Active Area (each channel) Channel Pitch Spectral response 16 Linear (1 by 16), optional quadratic4x4 Linear 0.8 × 16 mm, quadratic 4 by 4 1 mm PML-16-C-0: 300 to 600 nm (bi-alkaline) PML-16-C-1:300 to 850 nm (multi-alkaline) Other cathode versions: contact bh negative 40 mV 150 ps (typical value) < 40 ps rms SMA, 50Ω 4 bit + Error Signal, TTL/CMOS 15 pin Sub-D / HD ± 5V and +12V from DCC-100 card 52 mm × 52 mm × 145 mm Timing Output Polarity Average Timing Pulse Amplitude Time Resolution (FWHM) Time Skew between Channels Timing Output Connector Routing Signal Routing Signal Connector Power Supply Dimensions Photocathode Outline 1x16 channels Distance 1mm Width 0.8 mm 16 mm 16 mm 4x4 channels 4mm 4 mm Applications BDL-375 Picosecond Polychromator PML-16 Diode Laser Photon Pulse Time- and wavelengthresolved tissue fluorescence spectrometer Detector Channel to TCSPC Module Sample 800nm Scan Head TiSa Laser 150 fs, 80 MHz Reference Polychromator Multi-spectral timeresolved two-photon laser scanning microscope PML-16 Lens Microscope Scan Control Unit of Microscope Pixel Clock Line Clock Frame Clock TCSPC Module in ’Scan SYNC’ mode Please see also: Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 email [email protected] http://www becker-hickl com SPC-134 through SPC-830 time-correlated single photon counting modules PML-Spec Multi-spectral fluorescence lifetime detection system MW-FLIM Multi-spectral FLIM systems BDL-375-SM, BDL-405-SM, BDL-473-SM picosecond diode lasers PML-Spec Multi-Wavelength Lifetime Detection Multi-wavelength detection of fluorescence decay functions 16 wavelength channels recording simultaneously Spectral range 300-850 nm High time resolution: 180 ps fwhm IRF width Useful count rate > 2 MHz Ultra-high sensitivity Short acquisition times Greatly reduced pile-up Works with any bh TCSPC module Biomedical fluorescence Autofluorescence of tissue Time-resolved laser scanning microscopy Multi-spectral lifetime imaging Recording of chlorophyll transients Stopped flow fluorescence experiments The PML-SPEC uses bh’s proprietary multi-dimensional TCSPC technique. The light is split into its spectrum by a polychromator. The spectrum is detected by a 16-channel multi-anode PMT. The single photons detected in the PMT channels are recorded in a bh TCSPC module. The TCSPC module builds up a photon distribution over the time in the fluorescence decay and the wavelength. The technique does not use any time gating, detector channel multiplexing, or wavelength scanning and therefore reaches a near-ideal counting efficiency. Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin, Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 email: [email protected] www.becker-hickl.com US Representative: Boston Electronics Corp [email protected] www.boselec.com UK Representative: Photonic Solutions PLC [email protected] www.psplc.com dbpmlspec1 Dec. 2005 Covered by patent DE 43 39 787 PML-Spec Optical System Type of grating, lines/mm Recorded interval1, nm Wavelength channel width, nm Spectral range of grating2, nm F number Input slit width, mm Input slit height, mm Optical Input Versions Multi-Wavelength Lifetime Detection 400 320 20 300-6002 300-8503 600 1200 208 106 13 6.65 300-6002 300-8503 300-6002 300-8503 F / 3.7 0.6 7.5 Fibre bundle, fibre probe with 1 excitation fibre and 6 detection fibres, or SMA-905 connector Fiber Bundle for 2-Photon Microscopy Input Output 200 fibres D=3.5mm l x w = 7.5mm x 1mm SMA-905 Input for Fibre Probe for Spectroscopy Multi-Mode Fibre 1 Excitation Fibre 6 Detection Fibres Input Output Excitation Detection D=3.5mm l x w = 7.5mm x 1mm D = 0.1 to 1 mm 1 any interval within spectral range of grating Detector with bi-alkali cathode 3 Detector with multi-alkali cathode 2 Detector4 Cathode spectral response Typical dark count rate, s-1 Number of spectral channels Timing output polarity of detector Average timing pulse amplitude Time resolution (FWHM) Time skew between channels Timing output connector Routing signal Routing signal connector Power supply (PML-16) Power supply (PML-16C) 4 bi-alkali, 300 to 600 nm multi-alkali, 300 to 850 nm 200 800 16 negative 40 mV 150 to 200 ps < 40 ps SMA, 50Ω 4 bit + Count Disable Signal, TTL/CMOS 15 pin Sub-D / HD ± 5V from SPC module, -800...-900V / 0.35 mA from external HV power supply ± 5V, +12V from DCC-100 detector controller. Internal HV generator please see data sheet and manual of PML-16 and PML-16C multichannel PMT heads Applications Multi-Wavelength Fluorescence Decay Measurement BDL-405 ps Diode Laser Multi-Wavelength Picosecond Laser Scanning Microscope 750 nm to 900 nm Scan head Ti Sa Laser Filter Fibre or Sample fibre bundle SPC-830 TCSPC Module Lens Shutter Microscope Polychromator Fibre bundle Cross section of bundle PML-16TCSPC Module Grating Scan Clock Related Products and Accessories: SPC-134 through SPC-830 TCSPC boards, ps diode lasers, FLIM upgrade kits for scanning microscopes. Please see www.becker-hickl.com or call for individual data sheets. Supplementary Literature: W. Becker, Advanced time-correlated single-photon counting techniques. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 2005 W. Becker, The bh TCSPC Handbook, Becker & Hickl GmbH, 2005 Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin, Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 iwww.becker-hickl.com [email protected] dbpmlspec1 Dec. 2005 Boston Electronics Corporation 91 Boylston Street, Brookline. Massachusetts 02445 USA Tel: (800) 347 5445 or (617) 566 3821, Fax: (617) 731 0935 b l b l Metal Package PMT with Cooler Photosensor Modules H7422 Series Heatsink with fan (A7423) sold separately The H7422 series are PMT modules with an internal high-voltage power supply and a cooler installed to the metal package photomultiplier tube. Efficient cooling was achieved by placing the cooler near the photomultiplier tube to reduce thermal noise emitted from the photocathode and a high S/N ratio can be obtained even at extremely low light levels. The H7422-40 has high sensitivity in the 300 nm to 720 nm wavelength. The H7422-50 is sensitive along a wide spectral range from 380 nm to 890 nm. The H7422-01 and H7422-02 have a maximum rated current value of 100 µA and so are extremely effective when measurements are needed over a wide dynamic range. The photomultiplier tube is maintained at a constant temperature by monitoring the output from a thermistor installed near the photomultiplier and then regulating the current to the cooler. Product Variations Type No. H7422-40 H7422P-40 H7422-50 H7422P-50 H7422-01 H7422-02 Spectral Response Features Max. Rated Output 300 nm to 720 nm GaAsP photocathode, QE 40 % at peak wavelength, high gain (P type) 2 µA GaAs photocathode, QE 12 % at 800 nm, high gain (P type) 380 nm to 890 nm 300 nm to 850 nm 300 nm to 880 nm Multialkali photocathode Infrared-extended multialkali photocathode 100 µA Specifications Standard Type P Type Anode Cathode Parameter Suffix Input Voltage Max. Input Voltage for Main Unit Max. Input Current for Main Unit Max. Input Voltage for Peltier Element Max. Input Current for Peltier Element Max. Output Signal Current *1 Max. Control Voltage Recommended Control Voltage Adjustment Range Effective Photocathode Size Sensitivity Adjustment Range Peak Sensitivity Wavelength 420 nm 550 nm Radiant Sensitivity 800 nm Radiant Sensitivity *1 *4 550 nm Typ. Dark Current *1 *4 Max. Radiant Sensitivity *1 *4 550 nm Typ. Dark Count *1 *4 Max. Rise Time *1 *4 Ripple Noise (Max.) *2 Settling Time *3 Operating Temperature Range Storage Temperature Range Weight H7422 Series -40 -50 -01 -02 +11.5 to +15.5 +18 30 2.6 2.2 2 100 +0.9 (Input impedance 100 kΩ) +0.50 to +0.80 +0.25 to +0.80 5 7 1: 104 (H7422-01/-02) 500 550 800 400 40 108 15 56 56 176 50 36 6.4 — 90 1.2 2.8 × 104 8.8 × 104 2.5 × 104 1.8 × 104 0.4 0.5 0.03 0.08 1.0 1.3 0.08 0.2 1.8 × 105 5.0 × 104 — — — — 100 125 — — 300 375 1.00 0.78 0.6 0.2 +5 to +35 -20 to +50 Approx. 400 *1: Control voltage = +0.8 V *2: load resistance = 1 MΩ, load capacitance = 22 pF *3: The time required for the output to reach a stable level following a change in the control voltage from +1.0 V to +0.5 V. *4: When used with C8137-02 and A7423 Plateau voltage: PMT temperature setting value 0 °C 14 Unit — V V mA V A µA V V mm — nm mA/W A/W nA A/W s-1 ns mV s °C °C g Cooling Specifications H7422/H7422P Thermoelectric cooling 35 Approx. 5 2.0 Parameter Cooling Method Max. Cooling Temperature (∆T) Cooling Time Peltier Element Input Current Unit — °C min. A Characteristics (Cathode radiant sensitivity, Gain) TPMOB0135EA 108 1000 108 TPMOB0137EA H7422-50 107 107 100 H7422P 40/-50 106 106 H7422-01/-02 H7422-01 10 GAIN H7422-40/-50 GAIN 105 105 H7422-02 104 104 103 103 1 400 600 1000 800 102 0.25 0.3 0.5 WAVELENGTH (nm) 1.0 1.5 102 0.25 0.3 2.0 CONTROL VOLTAGE (V) Block Diagram POWER INPUT TAJIMI PRC03-23A10-7M 8-M3 DEPTH: 2 THERMISTOR 1.5 2.0 18.5 ± 0.2 HV POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGE DIVIDER CIRCUIT O-RING GROOVE (S-28 O-RING INCLUDED) Top View 9 5 ± 0.1 44.0 ± 0.2 4.0 ± 0.1 SIGNAL OUTPUT BNC-R 6.4 ± 0.2 7.4 ± 0.2 14.8 ± 0.2 5 Cross Section 8-M3 20.0 ± 0.2 TPMOC0144EA PMT A PHOTOCATHODE 4-M3 CONTROL VOLTAGE INPUT: 0 V to +0.9 V 53.6 ± 0.2 20 ± 0.2 4-M2 25.4 ± 0.2 PHOTOCATHODE 5 7.2 15.0 ± 0.2 26.0 ± 0.2 SIGNAL OUTPUT (POWER INPUT) GND 1.0 Cross Section WINDOW PMT Vcc 0.7 Dimensional Outlines (Unit: mm) 36.0 ± 0.3 PELTIER ELEMENT 0.5 CONTROL VOLTAGE (V) 22.2 ± 0.2 POWER INPUT FOR PELTIER ELEMENT 0.7 10.2 0.1 200 M25.4 P=1/32" C-MOUNT CATHODE RADIANT SENSITIVITY (mA/W) H7422-40 TPMOB0136EA M25.4 P = 1/32" C-MOUNT 65±02 M3 L = 4 0 Max Cross Section 20 ±02 M3 L = 4 0 Max GUIDE MARK A 19.0 ± 0.2 25.0 ± 0.2 104 ± 1 56.0 ± 0.3 Side View Front View A A: Thermistor 1 B: Thermistor 2 C: Peltier element + E G B D: Peltier element – D C E: VCC (+15 V) F: Control voltage input G: GND TAJIMI PRC03-23A10-7M F H7422-40/-50 H7422-01/-02 15.3 ± 0.3 16.3 ± 0.2 A TPHOA0023EA 15 Photosensor Modules H7422 Series Options (Unit: mm) 1 Heatsink with fan A7423 4 C-mount adapter A7413 22 30 M25.4 P=1/32" C-MOUNT 52.0 ± 0.5 16.5± 0.3 22.2 ± 0.2 M25.4 P=1/32" C-MOUNT 8 LEAD LENGTH: 50 ± 10 mm 4 Top View 14 TACCA0191EA 40 ± 1 24.5 ± 0.5 4-M3 (Supplied) 5 Power Supply Unit with Temperature Control C8137-02 POWER SWITCH PHOTOSENSOR SWITCH 19.2 ± 0.3 53.6 ± 0.3 CONTROL VOLTAGE ADJUSTMENT DIAL JST XMR-02V 92.0 ± 0.5 ON ON Side View 160.0 ± 0.5 TACCA0188EC CONTORL VOLTAGE DISPLAY 8 2 Signal cable E1168-05 42 46.0 ± 0.5 Front View 212 ± 1 12.5 Side View +50 0 BNC-P BNC-P 1500 - MODULE OUTPUT AC INPUT TACCA0148EA FAN OUTPUT FUSE Rear View 3 Optical fiber adapter (FC type) A7412 Power Cable 4- 2.2 4 TAPERED DEPTH: 1.5 +50 1500 -0 2.5 M8 P=0.75 Fan Cable +50 1500 -0 9.5 15 Front View 30 4-M2 L =3 5.5 3 9 LIGHT-SHIELD SHEET (THICKNESS: 0.5) AC Cable 1800 to 2000 Side View TACCA0238EA TACCA0190EA 17 Metal Package PMT with Cooler H7422 Series option 1 3 Optical Fiber Adapter A7412 Optical Fiber Option Heatsink with Fan 5 Cables (Supplied with C8137-02) Direct Input C-mount Lens Power Input 100 V ac to 240 V ac N N 4 Sample Power Supply Unit with Temperature Control C8137-02 C-Mount Adapter A7413 Photosensor Module H7422 Series 2 Signal Cable E1168-05 Signal Output TPMOC0145EA ● Heatsink with Fan A7423 ● Power Supply Unit with Temperature Control C8137-02 The temperature of the H7422 outer case rises due to the Peltier element housed in the case. The A7423 heatsink efficiently radiates away this heat to maintain the case temperature within 40 °C. The A7423 can be easily installed onto the H7422 with four M3 screws. Apply a coat of heat conductive grease onto the joint surface shared by the H7422 and A7423. The C8137-02 is a power supply unit with a temperature control function. Just connecting to an AC source of 100 to 240 V generates the output voltages for the Peltier element and the A7423 fan, needed for operating the H7422. The photomultiplier tube temperature can be maintained to 0 °C by monitoring the thermistor and regulating the output current from the Peltier element. Control voltage can be varied by a knob on the front panel. Parameter Input Voltage during lock Input Current during operation Operating Voltage Weight Value 12 140 90 10.2 to 13.8 120 Unit V mA mA V g ● Signal Cable E1168-05 This signal cable is terminated with a BNC connector for easily connecting the H7422 to external equipment. ● Optical Fiber Adapter (FC type) A7412 The A7412 is an FC type optical fiber connector that attaches to the light input window of the H7422. The A7412 can easily be secured in place with four M2 screws. ● C-Mount Adapter A7413 The A7413 mount adapter is used when a C-mount lens protruding 4 mm or more from the flange-back must be installed onto the H7422. 16 Parameter Max. Cooling Temperature Setting Cooling Temperature (preset at factory) Input Voltage Input Voltage Frequency Power Consumption Main Circuit Output Voltage Max. Peltier Element Current Output Voltage for Fan Control Voltage Adjustment Range Weight Value 35 Unit °C 0 °C 100 to 240 50/60 30 +15 2.2 12 0 to +0.9 1.1 V Hz VA V A V V kg MICROCHANNEL PLATEPHOTOMULTIPLIER TUBE (MCP-PMTs) R3809U-50 SERIES Compact MCP-PMT Series Featuring Variety of Spectral Response with Fast Time Response FEATURES High Speed Rise Time: 150ps T.T.S. (Transit Time Spread)1): 25ps(FWHM) Low Noise Compact Profile Useful Photocathode: 11mm diameter (Overall length: 70.2mm Outer diameter: 45.0mm) APPLICATIONS Molecular Science Analysis of Molecular Structure Medical Science Optical Computer Tomography Biochemistry Fast Gene Sequencing Material Engineering Semiconductor Analysis Crystal Research Figure 2: Transit Time Spread 104 TPMHB0178EB FWHM 25 0ps 103 COUNTS FWTM 65 0ps PMT SUPPLY VOLTAGE LASER PULSE WAVELENGTH 102 : R3809U-50 : –3000V : 5ps (FWHM) : 596nm 101 PHOTOCATHODE RADIANT SENSITIVITY (mA/W) Figure 1: Spectral Response Characteristics 103 102 TPMHB0177EB –200 -58 -50 -52 -57 -53 QE=20% -51 10–1 C F.D. 600 800 WAVELENGTH (nm) 1000 PULSE COMPRESSOR MONOCHROMETER AMP. 400 800 MODE LOCKED Nd-YAG LASER MIRROR QE=0.1% 200 600 MIRROR R3809U-50 10–2 400 Figure 3: Block Diagram of T.T.S. Mesuring System QE=1% -59 100 200 TIME (ps) QE=10% QE=5% 101 0 1200 DYE JET LASER PULSE WIDTH: 5ps (FWHM) FILTER BS CAVITY DUMPER POWER SUPPLY HAMAMATSU C3360 HAMAMATSU C5594 ORTEC 457 STOP START T A.C. M.C A. TRIGGER CIRCUIT HAMAMATSU PD S5973 DELAY C.F.D. TENNELEC TC454 COMPUTER TPMHC0078EC Subject to local technical requirements and regulations, availability of products included in this promotional material may vary. Please consult with our sales office. lnformation furnished by HA MAM ATS U is believed to be reliabIe. However, no responsibility is assumed for possibIe inaccuracies or ommissions. Specifications are subject to change without notice. No patent right are granted to any of the circuits described herein. © 1997 Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. MCP-PMT R3809U-50 SERIES SPECIFICATIONS PHOTOCATHODE SELECTION GUIDE Spectral Response(nm) Suffix Number Range Peek Wavelength Photocathode Material Window Material 50 160 to 850 430 Multialkali(S-20) Synthetic Silica 51 160 to 910 600 Extended Multi. (S-25) Synthetic Silica 52 160 to 650 400 Bialkali Synthetic Silica 53 160 to 320 230 Cs-Te Synthetic Silica 57 115 to 320 230 Cs-Te MgF 2 58 115 to 850 430 Multia kali (S-20) MgF 2 59 400 to 1200 800 Ag-O-Cs (S-1) Borosilicate GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Parameter Description/Value Unit Photocathode Useful Area in Diameter 11 mm MCP Channel Diameter 6 m 2 - Stage Filmed MCP Dynode Structure 2) Capacitance between Anode and MCP out 3 pF Weight 98 g ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTlCS (R3809U-50 ) at 25 Parameter Min. Typ. 100 150 A/lm 50 mA/W Luminous4) Cathode Sensitivity 3) Radiant at 430nm 1 Gain at –3000V 105 Anode Dark Counts at –3000V 2 Unit 105 200 cps 75 Voltage Divider Current at –3000V Time Response Max. A Rise Time5) 150 ps Fall Time6) 360 ps I.R.F. (FWHM)7) 458) T.T.S. (FWHM) ps 259) ps MAXIMUM RATINGS (Absolute Maximum Values) Parameter Supply Voltage Value Unit –3400 Vdc Average Anode Current 100 nA Pulsed Peak Current10) 350 mA Ambient Temperature11) –50 to +50 NOTES 1) Transit-time spread (TTS) is the fluctuation in transit time between individual pulse and specified as an FWHM (full wid h at half maximum) with the incident light having a single photoelectron state. 2) Two microchannel plates (MCP) are incorporated as a standard but we can provide it with either one or three MCPs as an option depending upon your request. 3) This data is based on R3809U-50. All other types (suffix number 51 through 59) have different characteristics on cathode sensitivity and anode dark counts. 4) The light source used to measure the luminous sensitivity is a tungsten filament lamp operated at a distribution temperature of 2856K. The incident light intensity is 10–4 lumen and 100 volts is applied between the photocathode and all other electrodes connected as an anode. 5) This is the mean time difference between the 10 and 90% amplitude points on the output waveform for full cathode illumination. 6) This is the mean time difference between the 90 and 10% amplitude points on the tailing edge of the output waveform for full cathode illumination. 7) I.R.F. stands for Instrument Response Function which is a convolution of the pulse function (H(t)) of he measuring system and the excitation function (E(t)) of a 8) 9) 10) 11) laser. The I.R.F. is given by the following formula: I.R.F. = H(t) E(t) We specify the I.R.F. as an FWHM of the time distribution taken by using he measuring system in Figure 13 that is Hamamatsu standard I.R.F. measurement. It can be temporary estimated by the following equation: (I.R.F. (FWHM))2 = (T.T.S.)2 + (Tw)2 + (Tj)2 where Tw is the pulse width of the laser used and Tj is the time jitter of all equipments used. An I.R.F. data is provided with the tube purchased as a standard. T.T.S. stands for Transit Time Spread (see1) above). Assuming that a laser pulse width (Tw) and time jitter of all equipments (Tj) used in Figure 3 are negligible, I.R.F. can be estimated as equal to T.T.S.(see8)) above. Therefore, T.T.S. can be estimated to be 25 picoseconds or less. This is specified under the operating conditions that he repetition rate of light input is 100 hertz or below and its pulse width is 70 picoseconds. This is specified under either operation or storage. TECHNICAL REFERENCE DATA Figure 4: Typical DC Gain 107 Figure 5: Variation of Dark Counts Depending on Ambient Temperature TPMHB0179EA 105 TPMHB0180EB R3809U-50 SERIES S-1 104 DARK COUNT (cps) 106 GAIN 105 104 103 S-25 103 S-20 102 101 100 102 –2.0 –2.2 –2.4 –2.6 –2.8 –3.0 –3.2 10–1 –3.4 –40 SUPPLY VOLTAGE (kV) 0 –20 20 40 AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (°C) Figure 6: Typical Output Deviation as a Function of Anode DC Current Figure 7: Typical Output Deviation as a Function of Anode Count Rate TPMHB0181EA TPMHB0182EA OVERALL SUPPLY VOLTAGE : –3000V MCP RESISTANCE : 200M MCP STR P CURRENT : 8.15 A SUPPLY VOLTAGE : –3000V MCP RESISTANCE : 200M MCP STRIP CURRENT : 8.15 A 50 DEVIATION (%) DEVIATION (%) 50 –50 -50 -100 101 102 103 104 –100 106 107 108 COUNT RATE (cps.) ANODE CURRENT (nA) Figure 8: Typical Output Waveform TPMHB0183EA OUTPUT VOLTAGE (20mV/div) 105 Figure 9: Block Diagram of Output Waveform Measuring System ND FILTER PICOSECOND LIGHT PULSER SUPPLY VOLTAGE : –3000V RISE T ME : 150ps FALL TIME : 360ps PULSE WIDTH : 300ps R3809U-50 HAMAMATSU MODEL#PLP-01 WAVELENGTH: 410nm PULSE WIDTH: 35ps TEKTRONIX 11802 HAMAMATSU C3360 Digital Sampling Osciloscope H.V. Power Supply 50 COMPUTER TIME (0 2ns/div) PLOTTER TPMHC0079EB Figure 10: Typical Pulse Height Distribution (PHD) Figure 11: Block Diagram of PHD Measuring System TPMHB0080EA SUPPLY VOLTAGE : –3000V WAVELENGTH : 410nm AMBIENT TEMPERATURE : 25°C DARK COUNTS : 200cps. (typ.) PMT : R3809U-50 PEAK : 200ch. DISCRI.LEVEL : 50ch. 10 COUNTS (1 10) ND FILTER HALOGEN LAMP 8 6 R3809U-50 HAMAMATSU C3360 A-D CONVERTER SIGNAL + DARK COUNTS PREAMP. L NEAR AMP. NAIG E-511A NAIG E-522 4 HIGH VOLTAGE POWER SUPPLY CANBERRA 2005 Discriminater: 50 ch. 2 0 50 200 400 COMPUTER M.C A. DARK COUNTS NAIG E-563A/E-562 600 800 NEC PC9801 1000 TPMHC0080EB PULSE HEIGHT (CHANNEL NUMBER) Figure 12: Typical Instrument Response Function (IRF) Figure 13: Block Diagram of IRF Measuring System TPMHB0083EA FWHM: 45ps 104 COUNTS (cps.) HAMAMATSU MODEL#PLP-01 WAVELENGTH: 410nm FWHM: 35ps PICOSECOND LIGHT PULSER TRIGGER SIGNAL OUT HAMAMATSU C3360 103 102 ND FILTER LIGHT OUT R3809U-50 HIGH VOLTAGE POWER SUPPLY HAMAMATSU C5594 101 DELAY 100 MIRROR START ORTEC 457 T.A.C. STOP ORTEC 425A AMP. C F D. TENNELEC TC-454 M.C.A. COMPUTER NAIG NEC PC9801 T ME (0 2ns/Div.) TPMHC0081EB Figure 14: Dimensional Outline (Unit: mm) 52.5 0.1 WINDOW FACE PLATE 3.0 0.2 –H.V INPUT SHV-R CONNECTOR 13.7 0.1 70.2 0.3 11MIN. 45.0 0.1 EFFECTIVE PHOTOCATHODE DIAMETER 11.0MIN. 3.2 0.1 7.0 0.2 PHOTOCATHODE ANODE OUTPUT SMA-R CONNECTOR TPMHA0352EB APM - 400 High Speed Avalanche Photodiode Module • Active Area from 0.03 mm2 to 7 mm2 • High Speed: Down to 150 ps Pulse Rise Time / 320 ps FWHM • Single +12V supply • Internal Temperature Compensation • Spectral Range from 330 nm to 1100 nm The APM-400 is a high speed avalanche photodiode module for the detection of pulsed light signals and for trigger applications. It includes the bias voltage supply for the avalanche photodiode along with a temperature compensation circuit for the diode gain. Due to its single +12V supply the device can be powered directly from the bh Sampling / Boxcar Module PCS-150, the bh Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting Modules or from a conventional +12V power supply. 0.5 A/W 0.4 APM 0.042 mm2 0.3 500 ps/div 0.2 APM Spectral Response Rescaled to Gain = 1 0.1 200 Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. 030 / 787 56 32 Fax. 030 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.de email: [email protected] 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 nm intelligent measurement and control systems APM - 400 Specification Active Area (please specify) FWHM (630nm, 50 Ohm) Pulse Rise Time Gain (Adjustable by Trimpot) Output Polarity Spectral Range Peak Sensitivity Wavelength Quantum Efficiency (630 nm) Dimensions Signal Connector 0.042 0.19 0.78 1.77 7.0 mm2 0.32 0.4 0.5 2.3 3 ns 0.16 0.2 0.25 1.1 1.2 ns 1 to > 100 positive (APM-400 P) or negative (APM-400 N) 330 to 1050 nm 750 nm 75 % 91 mm x 38 mm x 30 mm SMA 0.03 0.45 0.15 Applications: Laser induced Fluorescence Excitation with N2 Laser, Recording of Fluorescence and Excitation Signal by Sampling / Boxcar Technique Sample Laser OCF-400 optical constant fraction Trigger APM400 B&H APMSampling / Boxcar Module 400 PCS-150 TRG A B fluorescence excitation trigger Triggering of Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting Experiments Sample Laser APM400 PMT B&H Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting Module SPC-300 CFD SYNC Maximum Ratings Supply Voltage DC Output Current Light Pulse Power Average Light Power Operating Temperature -0.3 V ... +13 V 0.5 mA 100 kW (Duration < 2 ns) 100 mW 0°C ... +70°C Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. 030 / 787 56 32 Fax. 030 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.de email: [email protected] intelligent measurement and control systems PHD-400 High Speed Photodiode Module • 200 ps pulse rise time • 400 ps FWHM • Detector Area 0.25 mm2 • Single +5V or +12V supply • Current indicator A/W 0.5 Spectral Response 0.4 0.3 PHD-400 Impulse Response 1ns / div 100 mV / div 0.2 0.1 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 nm The PHD-400 is used for the detection of light signals and for trigger applications. It contains a Si pin Photodiode with an active area of 0.25 mm2 - a reasonable compromise between speed and sensitivity. For applications at high repetition rates the built in current indicator provides a convenient means for adjusting and focusing. Due to its single +5V or +12V supply the device can be powered directly from the Sampling / Boxcar Module PCS-150, from the Single Photon Counting Module SPC-300 or from a conventional 5V or12V power supply. Also available: Detector areas 3.6 mm2 and 11.9 mm2, UV versions, modules without current indicator, high sensitivity integrating photodiode modules, avalanche photodiode modules, preamplifiers. Please call for individual data sheets. Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.de email: [email protected] intelligent measurement and control systems Applications: Sample Laser Laser induced Fluorescence Excitation with N2 Laser, Recording of Fluorescence and Excitation Signal by Sampling / Boxcar Technique Triggering of Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting Experiments Steady State Fluorescence: Gating off Detector Background Signal B&H PHDSampling / Boxcar Module 400 PCS-150 TRG A B PHD400 OCF-400 optical constant fraction Trigger fluorescence excitation trigger Sample Laser PHD400 B&H Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting Module SPC-300 PMT CFD SYNC Sample Laser PHD400 PMT B&H Gated Photon Counting Module PHC-322 Inp /Gate Maximum Ratings Supply Voltage (5V version) Supply Voltage (12V version) Light Pulse Power Average Light Power Operating Temperature -0.3 V ... +6.5 V -0.3 V ... +13.5V < 100 kW (Duration < 2 ns) < 200 mW 0°C ... +70°C GND Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.de email: [email protected] +12V or +5V Power Supply Connector Pin Assignment intelligent measurement and control systems PDM-400 High Speed Photodiode Module • 200 ps pulse rise time • 400 ps FWHM • Detector Area 0.25 mm2 • Single +5V or +12V supply A/W 0.5 Spectral Response 0.4 0.3 PDM-400 Impulse Response 1ns / div 100 mV / div 0.2 0.1 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 nm The PDM-400 is used for the detection of light signals and for trigger applications. It contains a Si pin Photodiode with an active area of 0.25 mm2 - a reasonable compromise between speed and sensitivity. Due to its single +5V or +12V supply the device can be powered directly from the Sampling / Boxcar Module PCS-150, from the Single Photon Counting Module SPC-300 or from a conventional 5V or 12V power supply. Also available: Detector areas 3.6 mm2 and 11.9 mm2, UV versions, modules with current indicator, high sensitivity integrating photodiode modules, avalanche photodiode modules. Please call for individual data sheets. Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.de email: [email protected] intelligent measurement and control systems Applications: Sample Laser Laser induced Fluorescence Excitation with N2 Laser, Recording of Fluorescence and Excitation Signal by Sampling / Boxcar Technique B&H PDMSampling / Boxcar Module 400 PCS-150 TRG A B PDM400 OCF-400 optical constant fraction Trigger fluorescence excitation trigger Sample Triggering of Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting Experiments Steady State Fluorescence: Gating off Detector Background Signal Laser PDM400 B&H Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting Module SPC-300 PMT CFD SYNC Sample Laser PDM400 PMT B&H Gated Photon Counting Module PHC-322 Inp /Gate Maximum Ratings Supply Voltage (5 V Version) Supply Voltage (12 V Version) Light Pulse Power Average Light Power Operating Temperature -0.3 V ... + 6.5 V -0.3 V ... + 15 V < 100 kW (Duration < 2 ns) < 200 mW 0°C ... +70°C GND Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.de email: [email protected] +5V or +12V Power Supply Connector Pin Assignment intelligent measurement and control systems PDI-400 Integrating Photodiode Module • Pulse Energy Measurement • Low Noise • High Dynamic Range • Sensitivity in the fJ Range 0.7 A/W 3 0.6 0.5 1 0. 2 0.3 0.2 3 2 0.1 200 300 1: Standard Si 00 500 600 2: UV enhanced Si 700 800 900 3: IR enhanced Si 1000 1100 nm The PDI-400 is an integrating detector for pulsed light signals. The PDI-400 includes a high performance photodiode, a low noise charge sensitive amplifier and an active high pass filter. Due to filtering, most of the amplifier noise and low frequency background signals are rejected and the PDI400 is insensitive to roomlight. Its high sensitivity, low noise and wide dynamic range makes it extremely useful in all applications where accurate and reproducable measurements of light pulse energies are essential. When used in conjunction with our Boxcar devices PCS-150, PCI-200 or BCI150 the PDI-400 does not require a special power supply. Becker & Hickl GmbH Kolonnenstr. 29 10829 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 email [email protected] http://www/becker-hickl.de intelligent measurement and control systems PDI-400 Specification (typical values, Si standard versions) PDI-400/0.25 PDI-400/1.0 PDI-400-7.5 0.25 1.0 7.5 mm2 Output Voltage Range 10 10 10 V Output Impedance 50 50 50 Ω Output Noise (mV, rms, typ.) 0.2 0.5 10 mV 2 5 100 fJ 100 100 100 mV Active Area (Rl=1kΩ, Vsuppl = ±15V) Noise Limited Sensitivity Output Voltage at 1pJ, 650nm (typ.) Supply Voltages ±5 to ±15 V Also available: Special versions with other detector areas, UV enhanced and IR enhanced versions, UV versions with SiC photodiode, negative output versions. To record the signals of the PDI detectors we recommend our Boxcar devices PCI-200. Please contact Becker & Hickl. Application: Measurement of Nonlinear Optical Absorption Pulsed Laser Sample Cell optical Attenuator Filter PDI-400 PDI-400 Fast Photodiode Reference Cell PDM-400 Transmission vs. Intensity Trigger Boxcar Module PCI-200 Signal B Signal A Maximum Ratings Power Supply Voltage Light Pulse Power Average Light Power Operating Temperature Becker & Hickl GmbH Kolonnenstr. 29 10829 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 email [email protected] http://www/becker-hickl.de Vccmin = -0.3V, Vccmax = +16V Veemin = -16V, Veemax = +0.3V < 100 kW (Duration < 2 ns) < 100 mW 0°C ... +70°C intelligent measurement and control systems HRT - 41 4 Channel TCSPC Router for PMTs • Connects up to four separate detectors to one bh time-correlated single photon counting module • Simultaneous measurement in all detector channels • Applicable with most PMTs and MCPs • Time Resolution 30 ps with R3809U MCP • Count Rate > 1 MHz The HRT-81 module is used to connect up to four individual detectors to one bh SPC-3, SPC-4, SPC-5, SPC-6 or SPC-7 timecorrelated single photon counting module. The photons from the individual detectors are routed into different curves in the SPC memory. Thus the measurement yields a separate decay function for each of the detectors. Typical applications are fluorescence depolarisation measurements or simultaneous decay measurements at different waveleghts. Detector 1 Charge sensitive Amplifiers Comparators SPC-400 f (t,x,y) mode Encoder R0 R1 Detector 2 Routing Signal to SPC Module Detector 3 Detector 4 Error Treshold Adjust Timing Pulse to SPC CFD Summing Amplifier Covered by patent DE 43 39 787 Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. 030 / 787 56 32 Fax. 030 / 787 57 34 email [email protected] http://www.becker-hickl.com intelligent measurement and control systems HRT - 41 Specification Input Polarity Input Connectors Input Pulse Charge for best Routing Timing Output Polarity Delay Difference between Channels Timing Output Connector Gain of Timing Pulse Output Routing-Signal Recommended SPC ‘Latch Delay’ Routing Signal Connector Power Supply Dimensions negative 50 Ohm, SMA 0.2 ... 2 pAs negative 60 ps per Channel 50 Ohm, SMA 6 TTL 2 bit + Error Signal 20 ns 15 pin Sub-D/HD +5V, -5V, +12V via Sub-D Connector from SPC Module 110mm × 60mm × 31mm Applications Fluorescence Anisotropy Measurement Excitation Polarizer Detector Polarizer Detector Sample HRT-41 SPC Module Filters Detectors Multi Wavelength Decay Measurement HRT-41 Routing Timing Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. 030 / 787 56 32 Fax. 030 / 787 57 34 email [email protected] http://www.becker-hickl.com SPC Module intelligent measurement and control systems HRT-81 8 Channel TCSPC Router for PMTs • Connects up to eight separate detectors to one bh time-correlated single photon counting module • Simultaneous measurement in all detector channels • Applicable with most conventional PMTs and MCPs • Time Resolution 30 ps with R3809U MCP • Count Rate > 1 MHz The HRT-81 module is used to connect up to eight individual detectors to one of the bh time-correlated single photon counting modules SPC-xx0. The photons from the individual detectors are routed into different curves in the SPC memory. Thus the measurement yields a separate decay function for each of the detectors. Typical applications are fluorescence depolarisation measurements or simultaneous decay measurements at different waveleghts. Detector 1 Charge sensitive Amplifiers Comparators R0 R1 R2 Detector 2 . . . Detector 8 Encoder . . . . . . SPC-430 f(xyt) mode Routing Signal to SPC Module Error Threshold Adjust Summing Amplifier Timing Pulse to SPC Module Covered by patent DE 43 39 787 Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 email [email protected] http://www.becker-hickl.com intelligent measurement and control systems HRT-81 Specification Input Polarity Input Connectors Input Pulse Charge for best Routing Timing Output Polarity Delay Difference between Channels Timing Output Connector Gain of Timing Pulse Output Routing-Signal Routing Signal Connector Power Supply negative 50 Ohm, SMA 0.2 ... 2 pAs negative 60 ps per Channel 50 Ohm, SMA 4 TTL 3 bit + Error Signal 15 pin Sub-D/HD +5V, -5V, +12V via Sub-D Connector from SPC Module 120mm × 95mm × 34mm Dimensions Applications Fluorescence Anisotropy Measurement Excitation Polarizer Detector Polarizer Detector Sample HRT-8 Filters bh SPC Module Detectors Multi Wavelength Decay Measurement HRT-8 Routing Timing Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 email [email protected] http://www.becker-hickl.com bh SPC Module intelligent measurement and control systems HRT-82 8 Channel TCSPC-Router for APD Modules • Connects up to eight separate APD modules to one bh TCSPC module • Simultaneous measurement in all detector channels • Applicable with SPCM-AQR Modules and other TTL Output Detectors • Count Rate > 3 MHz The HRT-82 module is used to connect up to eight individual avalanche photodiode (APD) detectors to one of the time-correlated single photon counting modules SPC-xx0. The photons from the individual detectors are routed into different curves in the SPC memory. Thus the measurement yields a separate decay function for each of the detectors. Typical applications are fluorescence depolarisation measurements or simultaneous decay measurements at different waveleghts. Detector 1 TTL Buffer / Stretcher Encoder R0 R1 R2 Detector 2 Routing Signal to SPC Module . . . Detector 8 Error Summing Amplifier Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 email [email protected] http://www/becker-hickl.com SPC-430 f(xyt) mode Timing Pulse to SPC Module Covered by patent DE 43 39 787 intelligent measurement and control systems HRT-82 Specification Input Polarity Input Voltage Input Threshold Input Impedance Input Pulse Duration Input Connectors Timing Output Polarity Timing Output Voltage (2.5 V Input) Timing Output Impedance Timing Output Connector Delay Difference between Channels Routing-Signal Routing Signal Connector Power Supply Dimensions positive TTL, 1.2 V to 5 V adjustable from 0.1 V to 2 V 50 Ω 8 ns to 60 ns SMA negative 120 mV or 60 mV into 50 Ω (Jumper) 50 Ω 50 Ohm, SMA max. 60 ps per Channel TTL 3 bit + Error Signal 15 pin Sub-D/HD +5V, -5V, via Sub-D Connector from SPC Module 120mm × 95mm × 34mm Output Voltage Configuration Timing Pulse Gain Timing Pulse Gain Input Threshold Input Threshold Vout = 120 ... 150 mV mV (SPC-x30) Vout = 50 ... 60 mV (SPC-x00) Applications Filters Excitation Polarizer Detector Polarizer Detector Detectors HRT-82 Routing Sample HRT-82 bh TCSPC Module Fluorescence Anisotropy Measurement Timing bh TCSPC Module Multi Wavelength Fluorescence Decay Measurement Also available: HRT-41 4 Channel and HRT-81 8 Channel Routers for PMTs and MCPs. Please see individual data sheets. Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 email [email protected] http://www.becker-hickl.com intelligent measurement and control systems Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. 030 / 787 56 32 Fax. 030 / 787 57 34 email: [email protected] http://www.becker-hickl.de AMPMT1.DOC How (and why not) to Amplify PMT Signals ‘I have to detect a light signal in the ns range. I use a PMT, but the noise is too high so that I can’t see the signal. Which amplifier can I use to improve the signal-to-noise ratio?’ The answer to this frequently asked question is usually ‘none’, and the general recommendation for using an amplifier for PMT signals is ‘don’t’. This consideration explains the peculiarities of PMT signals and gives hints to handle these signals. The PMT A conventional PMT (Photomultiplier) is a vacuum tube which contains a photocathode, a number of dynodes (amplifying stages) and an anode which delivers the output signal. D2 PhotoCathode D1 D3 D4 D6 D5 D7 D8 Anode Fig. 1: Conventional PMT By the operating voltage an electrical field is built up that accelerates the electrons from the cathode to the first dynode D1, from D1 to D2 and to the next dynodes, and from D8 to the anode. When a photoelectron emitted by the photocathode hits D1 it releases several secondary electrons. The same happens for the electrons emitted by D1 when they hit D2. The overall gain can reach values of 106 to 108. The secondary emission at the dynodes is very fast, therefore the electrons resulting from one photoelectron arrive at the anode within some ns. Due to the high gain and the short response a single photoelectron yields a easily detectable current pulse at the anode. The operating voltage of a PMT is in the order of 800V to some kV. The gain of the PMT strongly depends on this voltage. Therefore, the gain can be conveniently controlled by changing the operating voltage. MCP (Micro Channel Plate) PMTs achieve the same effect by a plate with millions of microchannels. The channel walls have a conductive coating. When a high voltage is applied across the plate the channel walls act as a secondary emission target, and an input photon is multiplied by a factor 105 to 106. 1 Channel Plate Channel Plate Anode Electrons to Anode Photo Electron Electrical Field Fig. 2: MCP PMT Cathode Due to their compact design, MCP-PMTs are extremely fast. The PMT Signal The output pulse for a single photoelectron is called the ‘Single Electron Response’ or SER of the PMT. Some typical SER shapes are shown in the figure below. Iout 1ns/div 1ns/div Standard PMT 1ns/div Fast PMT (R5600, H5783) MCP-PMT Fig. 3: Single Electron Response of Different PMTs The peak current of the SER is approximately* G . e Iser = ---------FWHM ( G = PMT Gain, e=1.6 . 10-19 As, FWHM= SER pulse width, full width at half maximum) Due to the random nature of the PMT gain, Iser is not stable but varies from pulse to pulse. The distribution of Iser can be very broad, up to 1:5 to 1:10. With G being the average gain, the formula delivers the average Iser which is sufficient for the following considerations. The table below shows some typical values. Iser is the average SER peak current and Vser the average SER peak voltage when the output is terminated with 50 Ω. For comparison, Imax is the maximum useful output pulse current of the PMT. PMT Standard Fast PMT MCP PMT PMT Gain 7 10 107 106 FWHM Iser Vout (50 Ω) Imax (cont) I max (pulse) 5 ns 1.5 ns 0.36 ns 0.32 mA 1 mA 0.5mA 16 mV 50 mV 25 mV 100uA 100uA 0.1uA 50mA 100mA 10mA Table 1: Typical PMT parameters The conclusions from the table above are: 1. The output voltage for a single detected photon is in the order of some 10mV at 50 Ω. This is much more than the noise of any reasonable electronic recording device. Thus, the PMT easily ‘sees’ the individual photons of the light signal. Further amplification cannot increase the number of signal photons and therefore does not improve the SNR. 2 2. The peak current for a single photon , Iser, is greater than the maximum continuous output current, Imax(cont). Therefore, a continuous light signal does not produce a continuous current at the PMT output but a train of random SER pulses. 3. The peak current for a single photon , Iser, is only 1/20 to 1/100 of the maximum output pulse current, Imax(pulse). Thus, even for light pulses no more than 20 to 100 photons can be detected at the same moment. This limits the SNR of the unprocessed PMT signal to less than 10. Actually the SNR is even worse because of the random nature of the PMT gain. Any additional amplifier can only decrease the ratio Imax / Iser and therefore decrease the SNR. The typical appearance of the PMT signal for the different cases is shown in the figure below. 0 0 -10 -10 -20 -20 -30 -30 -40 -40 -50 -50 -60 -60 -70 -70 -80 -80 -90 -90 -100 mV -100 mV 1 2 3 4 5 6 7ns 1 2 3 4 5 6 7us 1 2 b Continous Light, us Scale a Continous Light, ns Scale Random SER Pulses Random SER Pulses 0 0 -10 -10 -10 -20 -20 -20 -30 -30 -30 -40 -40 -40 -50 -50 -50 -60 -60 -60 -70 -70 -70 -80 -80 -80 -90 -90 -90 -100 mV -100 mV -100 mV 1 2 3 4 5 6 7ns c: Ultra Short Pulses, Low Intensity: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7ns Random SER pulses at time of light pulse 0 0 0 -100 -100 -200 -200 -200 -300 -300 -300 -400 -400 -400 -500 -500 -500 -600 -600 -600 -700 -700 -700 -800 -800 -800 -900 -900 -900 -1000 mV -1000 mV -1000 mV 2 3 4 5 6 7ns f: Ultra Short Pulses, High Intensity: SER-like pulses, Amplitude jitters around intensity-proportional value due to random number of photons and random gain 10 20 40ns g: 10ns Pulses, High Intensity: Pulses with noise due to random number of photons and random gain 4 5 6 7us Random SER Pulses spread over pulse duration -100 1 3 e: Single us Light Pulse, Low Intensity: d: 5ns Pulses, Low Intensity: Random SER pulses spread over pulse duration 1 2 3 4 5 6 7us h: Single us Light Pulse, High Intensity: Signal with noise due to random number of photons and random gain Fig. 4: PMT Signals for different Light Signal 3 Why NOT to use an Amplifier Obviously, any additional amplification of the signals shown in fig. 4 does not improve the SNR. The SNR is limited by the number of signal photons which cannot be increased by the amplifier. Actually, an amplifier can only decrease the useful dynamic range, because it increases the signal for a single photon while setting additional constraints to the maximum signal level. The situation is shown in the figure below. 0 0 -100 -100 -200 -200 -300 -300 -400 1Vmax Amp ifier -500 -400 -500 -600 -600 -700 -700 -800 -800 -900 -900 -1000 mV -1000 mV 10 40ns 20 0 40ns 20 0 -100 -100 -200 -200 -300 1Vmax -400 Amplifier -500 -300 -400 -500 -600 -600 -700 -700 -800 -800 -900 -1000 mV 10 -900 1 2 3 4 5 6 7us -1000 mV 1 2 3 4 5 6 7us Fig. 5: Effect of an amplifier on a fast PMT signal The amplifier has a gain of 2, but saturates for input signals above 500mV. Therefore, not the full output signal range of the PMT can be used. The bigger signals with their better SNR are distorted, while the SNR of the smaller signals remains unchanged. For longer signals (lower example) it can happen that only the peaks are clipped. Although this is often not noticed, it makes the signal useless for further processing. When to use an Amplifier Low Bandwidth Recording When a PMT is used as a linear detector its pulse response is given by the SER. Therefore, PMTs are very fast devices. In some applications the high speed is not required, and the signal is recorded with a reduced time resolution. This can be achieved by a passive low pass filter, by a slow amplifier or simply by terminating the PMT output with a resistor much higher than 50 Ω. The slow recording device can be seen as a low pass filter which smoothens the SER pulses. SER PMT Low Pass Filter SER after Low Pass Filtering Fig. 6: Effect of Low Pass Filtering on the SER 4 The virtual peak current of the SER after the low pass filter is approximately G . e Iserf = ---------Tfil FWHM Iserf = Iser -------Tfil or (G = PMT Gain, e=1.6 . 10-19 As, Tfil= Filter Rise Time, FWHM= SER pulse width, full width at half maximum) The curves below show the virtual SER peak current and the SER peak voltage for a standard PMT and for different termination resistors. 1mA SER Peak Current 1V Iser 1GOhm 1uA 1mV 1MOhm 1kOhm 1nA SER Peak Voltage 1uV 50Ohm 1nV 1pV 1pA 1ns 1us 1ms Filter Time Constant 1s Fig. 7: Virtual SER peak current and SER peak voltage after low pass filtering Fig. 7 shows that the virtual SER peak current drops to very low values for longer low pass filter times. Additional amplification can be required now. However, for slow measurements the loss of signal amplitude can be compensated by increasing the termination resistor which makes a high amplifier gain unnecessary. Two basically different amplifier principles are available - the normal ‘Voltage’ amplifier and the ‘Current’ or ‘Transimpedance’ amplifier. Iin Vin High Zin Vout = g Vin Low Zin Rin Vout = g Iin Rin Fig 8 a: Voltage Amplifier Fig 8 b: Current Amplifier The voltage at the input is transferred into a voltage at the output The input has a high impedance The current at the input is transferred into a voltage at the output The input has a low impedance A Voltage Amplifier (fig. 8a) transfers a voltage at the input into a higher voltage at the output. The input of the amplifier represents a high impedance. The output current of the PMT is converted into a voltage at the input matching resistor Rin. This voltage appears with the specified gain at the amplifier output. A Current Amplifier (fig. 8b) transfers a current at the input into a voltage at the output. Thus the gain of a current amplifier is given in V/A. The input of a current amplifier has a low 5 impedance. Ideally, the input should represent a short circuit. Practically an input matching resistor Rin is added (typically 50 Ω) to maintain stability and to avoid reflections at the input cable. Current amplifiers are used to get fast signals from detectors which represent a current source with a high parallel capacitance. In the present case their is neither a high detector capacitance nor a requirement for high speed. Thus, a current amplifier is not the right choice to reduce the bandwidth of a PMT signal. There would be no reasonable and predictable bandwidth reduction, and the strong SER pulses could drive the amplifier into saturation without producing an equivalent output signal. If you really need a fast amplifier for a PMT signal, you should better use a GHz wideband amplifier in 50Ω technique (see ‘Photon Counting’). High Light Intensities There are applications where the light intensity is so high that it would saturate the PMT operated at its normal gain. To get an optimum SNR from the PMT for these signals, it is better to reduce the PMT gain than to attenuate the light. However, if the PMT operating voltage is decreased by decreasing the operating voltage, also the speed and the useful output current range of the PMT decreases. To match the decreased signal range to the input range of a recording device a moderate amplification can be reasonable. However, this situation is unlikely because a PMT normally delivers enough output current even if its gain is reduced by some orders of magnitude. If the gain has to be reduced to extremely low values you should consider to use another detector - an avalanche photodiode or even a PIN photodiode. Photon Counting Signals as shown in fig. 4b, 4d and 4e are not effectively captured by analog data acquisition methods. They are better recorded by counting the individual SER pulses. This ‘Photon Counting’ method has some striking benefits: - The amplitude jitter of the SER pulses does not appear in the result. - The dynamic range of the measurement is limited by the photon statistics only. - Low frequency pickup and other spurious signals can be suppressed by a discriminator. - The gain instability of the PMT has little effect on the result. - The time resolution is limited by the transit time spread of the SER pulses rather than by their width. This fact is exploited for ‘Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting’ to achieve a resolution down to 25ps with MCP PMTs. Therefore, you should consider to use photon counting for light intensities that deliver well separated single photon pulses. The discriminators at the input of a photon counter work best at a peak amplitude of some 100mV. Therefore, an amplifier is useful if the SER amplitude is less than 50 mV. For photon counting with MCP PMTs an amplifier should always be used. Due to degradation of the microchannels by sputtering, these devices have a limited lifetime. Using an amplifier enables the MCP to be operated at reduced gain and reduced output current so that the lifetime is extended. For photon counting the amplifier gain can be so high that the biggest SER pulses just fit into the amplifier output and the discriminator input voltage range. The amplifier should have sufficient bandwidth not to broaden the SER pulse of the PMT. This requires some 100MHz for standard PMTs and at least 1 GHz for MCPs. The input and output impedance should be 6 50 Ω for correct cable termination. Such amplifiers are known as ‘GHz wideband amplifiers in 50 Ω technique and are available with a gain of up to 100 and a bandwidth of some GHz. 7 HFAH-20 HFAH-40 Wide-Band Amplifiers for PMTs and MCPs Overload indicator Overload signal for detector shutdown Gain versions 20 dB and 40 dB Cutoff frequency 430 MHz and 2.9 GHz Low noise, high linearity Input and output impedance 50 : Input protection The HFAH series amplifiers are used to amplify the output signals of high speed PMTs or MCPs for single photon counting applications. The gain of the amplifier allows the detector to be operated at reduced signal current. This increases the available count rate and extends the lifetime of MCP tubes. Furthermore, the amplifier gain helps to reduce noise pickup in long signal cables. The amplifiers have an input protection circuit preventing damage by overload or by charged signal cables. Exceeding of a specified detector current is indicated by two LEDs and a buzzer. If the detector current exceeds 200% of the specified value a TTL overload signal is activated. This signal can be used to shut down the detector or to close a shutter via the BH DCC-100 detector controller card. The power supply of the HFAH amplifier comes from the BH SPC card or from the DCC-100. The HFAH comes in two gain / bandwidth and several overload threshold versions. The 20 dB / 2.9 GHz version is used if maximum time resolution is to be obtained from a fast PMT or MCP. The 40dB / 430 MHz is used to obtain MHz count rates from MCP-PMTs within their limited output current capability. The 430 MHz bandwidth filtering maximises the signal-to-noise ratio of the single photon pulses thus providing optimum TCSPC time resolution at reduced detector gain. 20dB, 2.9 GHz 40dB, 430 MHz 45 ps diode laser pulse recorded by R3809U with HFAH-20 and -40 +5V Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin, Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 email: [email protected] www becker-hickl com US Representative: Boston Electronics Corp [email protected] www boselec.com UK Representative: Photonic Solutions PLC sales@psplc com www psplc com +5V +5V Reset Button Magnetically Latched Relais /Ovld Shutter MCP In +12V HFAH Amplifier Photon Counter Out Controlling a shutter via a simple relais swith HFAH-20 HFAH-40 Input / output impedance Singal Connectors Gain Bandwidth Lower cutoff frequency Max. linear output voltage Noise Figure Detector overload current threshold, Iovl Detector overload warning Detector overload signal Activation of yellow LED at Activation of red LED and buzzer at Activation of overload signal at Overload signal response time Power Supply Voltage Maximum safe power supply voltage Power Supply Current at +12V Dimensions Connector for power and overload out Pin assignment of sub-D connector 50 Ω SMA 20 dB, non inverting 2.9 GHz 500 kHz 1V 4 dB 0.1 1 2 or 10 µA LEDs and buzzer TTL, active low, can be or-wired 0.6 Iovl 1.0 Iovl 2.0 Iovl 10 ms +12 V +15 V 80 mA 50 x 60 x 28 mm 15 pin HD sub D 1 and 15: GND, 10: +12V 50 Ω SMA 40 dB, non inverting 430 MHz 500 kHz 1V 6 dB 0.1 1 2 or 10 µA LEDs and buzzer TTL, active low, can be or-wired 0.6 Iovl 1.0 Iovl 2.0 Iovl 10 ms +12 V +15 V 45 mA 50 x 60 x 28 mm 15 pin HD sub D 1 and 15: GND, 10: +12V 14: /overload 14: /overload HFAH-20 Step response 1 ns / div HFAH-20 Response to 280-ps pulse 1 ns / div HFAH-20 Frequency response 1 dB / div 1 MHz to 3 GHz HFAH-40 Response to 280-ps pulse 1 ns / div HFAH-40 Frequency response 1 dB / div 1 MHz to 3 GHz HFAH-40 Step response 1 ns / div Con2 +12V / GND Shutter Power Supply Con1 +12V DCC 2 DCC 1 / 3 Con3 High current switches DCC-100 Photodiode interlock +12 V /OVLD ’P Box’ Power Saving Box Shutter 1 Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin, Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 email: [email protected] www becker-hickl com US Representative: Boston Electronics Corp [email protected] www boselec.com UK Representative: Photonic Solutions PLC sales@psplc com www psplc com SPC-830 from / to Photodiode Amplifier Shutter / Detector Assembly To SPC card R3809U HFAH Photodiode R3809U Overload Protection M-SHUT-Z Detctor / Shutter Assembly Reduced Power of Shutter Coils by ’P Box’ Additional Shutter Interlock by Photodiode in Front of Shutter HFAC - 26 GHz Wide Band Amplifier with Overload Detection for PMTs or MCPs • Cutoff frequency 1.6 GHz • Gain 26 dB • Input and Output Impedance 50 Ω • Low Frequency Limit < 5kHz • Input Protection • Monitoring of Detector Current / Overload Warning The HFAC series amplifiers are used to amplify the output signals of high speed PMTs or MCPs, especially in single photon counting applications. The gain of the amplifier allows the detector to be operated at reduced signal current which extends the lifetime of MCP tubes. Furthermore, the amplifier gain helps to reduce noise pickup in long signal cables.The amplifiers have an input protection circuit which avoids damage by overload or by charged signal cables. Furthermore, two LEDs indicate overload conditions in the detector. A TTL signal is provided to switch off the light source or the detector supply voltage if the average detector current exceed the specified value. Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.de email: [email protected] intelligent measurement and control systems HFAC - 26 Input / Output Impedance Connectors Gain Bandwidth Low Cutoff Frequency Max. Output Voltage Noise Figure 50 Ω SMA 26 dB non inverting 1.6 GHz 5 kHz 1V 5 dB Detector Overload Current 0.1 µA, 1 µA or 10 µA (specified by extension HFAC-26-xx) yellow LED at 0.5 Imax red LED at Imax TTL L-signal at 1.2 Imax Detector Overload Warning Current Warning Response Time Power Supply Voltage Power Supply Current Dimensions 200 mV / div 1 ms +12 ... +15 V typ. 45 mA 52 x 38 x 31 mm HFAC Step Response 500 ps / div GND +12V Power Supply Connector Pin Assignment 500 ps / div 200 mV / div HFAC Impulse Response +5V +5V +5V Reset Button Magnetically Latched Relais Photon Counter /Ovld Shutter PMT or MCP In HFAC Amplifier Out Closing a Shutter at PMT Overload Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.de email: [email protected] intelligent measurement and control systems HFAM - 26 8 Channel GHz Wide Band Amplifier with Overload Detection for PMTs or MCPs • Cutoff frequency 1.6 GHz • Gain 26 dB • Input and Output Impedance 50 Ω • Low Frequency Limit < 5kHz • Input Protection • Monitoring of Detector Current / Overload Warning The HFAM series amplifiers are used to amplify the output signals of high speed PMTs or MCPs, especially in single photon counting applications. The gain of the amplifier allows the detector to be operated at reduced signal current which extends the lifetime of MCP tubes. Furthermore, the amplifier gain helps to reduce noise pickup in long signal cables. The amplifiers have an input protection circuit which avoids damage by overload or by charged signal cables. Furthermore, a LED indicates an overload condition if the average detector currents of one or more channels excceed a specified value. Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.de email: [email protected] intelligent measurement and control systems HFAM - 26 Input / Output Impedance Connectors Gain Bandwidth Low Cutoff Frequency Max. Linear Output Voltage Noise Figure 50 Ω SMA 26 dB, non inverting 1.6 GHz 5 kHz 1V 5 dB Detector Overload Current (Imax, please specify) Detector Overload Warning Current Warning Response Time Power Supply Voltage Power Supply Current Dimensions 0.1 µA (for MCPs) or 10 µA (for PMTs) red LED at Imax 1 ms +12 ... +15 V typ. 320 mA 110 x 60 x 30 mm A Step Response (A) and Crosstalk between Adjacent Channels (B) B 1ns/div 80mV/div GND 500 ps / div 200 mV / div +12V Power Supply Connector Pin Assignment HFAM Impulse Response Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.de email: [email protected] intelligent measurement and control systems ACA - XX GHz Wide Band Amplifier Family • Cutoff Frequency up to 2.2 GHz • Gain from 13 dB to 37 dB • Input and Output Impedance 50 Ω • Low Frequency Limit < 5kHz • Input Protection Available ACA-2 13db ACA-2 21dB ACA-2 37db ACA-4 35dB 2.2 1.8 1.6 1.8 GHz Low Frequency Limit 3 3 3 5 kHz Gain (dB) 13 21 37 35 dB +4.5 +11 -70 +56 7 6 5 6 Cutoff Frequency (-3dB) Gain (factor) Noise Figure (50 Ω, 500 MHz) Input / Output Impedance 50 Connectors Dimensions Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.de email: [email protected] Ω SMA Power Supply Voltage Power Supply Current dB 2 to 15 V 130 110 160 220 mA 52 x 38 x 31 52 x 38 x 31 52 x 38 x 31 92 x 38 x31 mm intelligent measurement and control systems ACA - XX ACA Frequency and Step Response 20 dB ACA2-13dB 10 fc=2.2 GHz 0 500 ps/div 1 20 dB 10 100 fc=1.8 GHz 10 100 1000 MHz ACA4-35dB fc=1.8 GHz 30 ACA435dB 500 ps/div 1 10 100 1000 MHz ACA2-37dB 40 dB fc=1.6 GHz 30 20 ACA221dB 500 ps/div 1 40 dB 20 1000 MHz ACA2-21dB 10 0 ACA213dB ACA237dB 500 ps/div 1 10 100 1000 MHz Other amplifier products: HFAC GHz Preamplifiers for PMTs and MCPs, DCA Series Low DC Drift Wideband Amplifiers, HFAM eight Channel GHz Preamplifier for PMTs and MCPs. Please see individual data sheets. Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.de email: [email protected] intelligent measurement and control systems DCA - XX Ultra Low Drift Wideband Amplifiers The DCA series amplifiers use a composite principle to achieve high bandwidth, low drift and high gain stability. They can be used for a wide variety of signal level or signal polarity matching applications and for current-voltage conversion. Due to a flexible design and manufacturing principle the amplifiers can easily be matched to customer specific requirements. Different gain, bandwidth or input and output impedance values are available on request. Bandwidth (Voutpp < 2V, MHz) Gain (other values on request) Input Impedance Input Offset Voltage Offset Drift Input Noise (1kHz...100MHz) Output Impedance Output Voltage Swing (50 Ω) Output Voltage Swing (1 kΩ) Power Supply Connectors (other on request) Dimensions (mm) Power Supply Cable: red: +5V (+12V) white: GND DCA-1-5V DCA-2-5V DCA-1-12V DCA-2-12V DC to 400 -1 or -2 50 Ω 0,5 mV 10 µV/°C 2 nV/Hz1/2 50 Ω ± 1,5 V ±3V ±5V SMA 52 x 38 x 31 DC to 250 + 4 or +10 50 Ω 0,5 mV 10 µV/°C 2 nV/Hz1/2 50 Ω ± 1,5 V ±3V ±5V SMA 52 x 38 x 31 DC to 100 -1 or -2 50 Ω 0,5 mV 10 µV/°C 2 nV/Hz1/2 50 Ω ±4V ± 10 V ± 12 V SMA 52 x 38 x 31 DC to 75 +4 or +10 50 Ω 0,5 mV 10 µV/°C 2 nV/Hz1/2 50 Ω ±4V ± 10 V ± 12 V SMA 52 x 38 x 31 yellow: -5V (-12V) black (shield): GND Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.de email: [email protected] intelligent measurement and control systems DCA - XX DCA-1-5V Step Response G 2 (Gain = -1 and -2) G 1 1ns / div 0.5V / div DCA-2-5V Step Response (Gain = +10) G +10 2ns / div 0.5V / div 24 dB DCA-2-5V Gain vs. Frequency at different Input Power 22 -20dBm 20 -15 dBm 18 16 -10dBm 14 12 DCA-2 20dB Frequency Response Parameter Input Power 0.5 1 5 10 G 2 G 1 20 50 100 200 MHz 500 DCA-1-12V Step Response (Gain = -1 and -2) 4ns / div 0.5V / div G 10 DCA-2-12V Step response (Gain = +10) 4ns / div 0.5V / div Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.de email: [email protected] intelligent measurement and control systems PPA - 100 Precision Preamplifier Bandwidth (Vout < 2V) Gain (Switch Selectable) Input Impedance (Other Values on Request) Output Impedance Input Offset Voltage (unadjusted) Input Current (25°C) Offset Voltage Drift Input Voltage Noise (>1kHz) Input Voltage Noise (100 Hz) Input Current Noise (100 Hz) Output Voltage Swing (Load 1kΩ, Vs ± 12V ) Output Voltage Swing (Load 50 Ω, Vs ± 12V) Supply Voltages Input and Output Connectors Dimensions Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.com email: [email protected] DC ... 2 MHz 100 / 200 / 500 / 1000 1M Ω / 40 pF 50 Ω < 0,3 mV typ. 2 pA < 2.5 µ V/°C 5 nV / Hz1/2 10 nV / Hz1/2 4 fA / Hz1/2 ± 10 V ±2V ± 5 V to ±15 V SMA 52 x 38 x 31 mm PPA - 100 PPA-100 Step Response Vs = ± 12V Vout < ± 5V Gain=500, 1000 200ns/div 1V/div Gain=100, 200 200ns/div 1V/div Offset +Vs GND -Vs GND PPA-100 Gain Setting Switches and Offset Adjust Output Input 50 Becker & Hickl GmbH Nahmitzer Damm 30 12277 Berlin Tel. +49 / 30 / 787 56 32 Fax. +49 / 30 / 787 57 34 http://www.becker-hickl.com email: [email protected] gain1 10 20 gain2 10 This page intentionally blank. Return by fax or postal mail or scanned email to the address below Boston Electronics Corporation 91 Boylston Street, Brookline, Massachusetts 02445 USA (800)347-5445 or (617)566- 3821 fax (617)731-0935 www.boselec.com [email protected] Can we send you a FREE bound copy of The bh TCSPC Handbook? 5th Edition, 702 pages, 823 References, October 2012 by Wolfgang Becker For your copy, tell us something about your interest in TCSPC and give us your name and address below so that we can send it to you. I am a TCSPC user now I am thinking about using TCSPC in the future My interest is microscopy My interest is single molecule detection My interest is __________________________________ Name: __________________________________________________________________ Company or Institution: _____________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________ Also available useful publications (check the box to request): TCSPC for Microscopy TCSPC Systems Photon Counting Detectors for TCSPC Picosecond Lasers for TCSPC TCSPC Handbook Request Form.doc 10/22/2012
