Complete and Compact 32-Channel System for Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting Measurements
Single-photon detectors play a key role in many research fields such as biology, chemistry, medicine, and space technology, and in recent years, single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) have become a valid alternative to photo multiplier tubes (PMTs). Moreover, scientific research has recently focused...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IEEE
2013-01-01
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| Series: | IEEE Photonics Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6617673/ |
| _version_ | 1824039758806908928 |
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| author | A. Cuccato S. Antonioli M. Crotti I. Labanca A. Gulinatti I. Rech M. Ghioni |
| author_facet | A. Cuccato S. Antonioli M. Crotti I. Labanca A. Gulinatti I. Rech M. Ghioni |
| author_sort | A. Cuccato |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Single-photon detectors play a key role in many research fields such as biology, chemistry, medicine, and space technology, and in recent years, single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) have become a valid alternative to photo multiplier tubes (PMTs). Moreover, scientific research has recently focused on single-photon detector arrays, pushed by a growing demand for multichannel systems. In this scenario, we developed a compact 32-channel system for time-resolved single-photon counting applications. The system is divided into two independent modules: a photon detection head including a 32 × 1 SPAD array built in custom technology, featuring high time resolution, high photon detection efficiency (44% at 550 nm), and low dark count rate (mean value <; 400 cps at -10 °C) at 6-V excess bias voltage and a 32-channel acquisition system able to perform time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) measurements. The TCSPC module includes eight four-channel time-to-amplitude converter (TAC) arrays, built-in 0.35-μm Si-Ge BiCMOS technology, characterized by low differential non-linearity (rms value lower than 0.15% of the time bin width) and variable full-scale range. The system response function of this TCSPC instrumentation achieves a mean time resolution of 63 psFWHM, considering a mean count rate of 1 Mcps. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T18:58:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7b1290ec352f46b8ab63e86f2e736974 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1943-0655 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T18:58:41Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | IEEE |
| record_format | Article |
| series | IEEE Photonics Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-7b1290ec352f46b8ab63e86f2e7369742022-12-21T18:16:01ZengIEEEIEEE Photonics Journal1943-06552013-01-01556801514680151410.1109/JPHOT.2013.22842506617673Complete and Compact 32-Channel System for Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting MeasurementsA. Cuccato0S. Antonioli1M. Crotti2I. Labanca3A. Gulinatti4I. Rech5M. Ghioni6<formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$^{1}$</tex></formula> Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano , Milano, ItalyDipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, ItalyDipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, ItalyDipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, ItalyDipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, ItalyDipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, ItalyDipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, ItalySingle-photon detectors play a key role in many research fields such as biology, chemistry, medicine, and space technology, and in recent years, single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) have become a valid alternative to photo multiplier tubes (PMTs). Moreover, scientific research has recently focused on single-photon detector arrays, pushed by a growing demand for multichannel systems. In this scenario, we developed a compact 32-channel system for time-resolved single-photon counting applications. The system is divided into two independent modules: a photon detection head including a 32 × 1 SPAD array built in custom technology, featuring high time resolution, high photon detection efficiency (44% at 550 nm), and low dark count rate (mean value <; 400 cps at -10 °C) at 6-V excess bias voltage and a 32-channel acquisition system able to perform time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) measurements. The TCSPC module includes eight four-channel time-to-amplitude converter (TAC) arrays, built-in 0.35-μm Si-Ge BiCMOS technology, characterized by low differential non-linearity (rms value lower than 0.15% of the time bin width) and variable full-scale range. The system response function of this TCSPC instrumentation achieves a mean time resolution of 63 psFWHM, considering a mean count rate of 1 Mcps.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6617673/Single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) arraytime-correlated single-photon counting (TSPC)time-to-amplitude converter (TAC)time-to-digital converter (TDC) |
| spellingShingle | A. Cuccato S. Antonioli M. Crotti I. Labanca A. Gulinatti I. Rech M. Ghioni Complete and Compact 32-Channel System for Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting Measurements IEEE Photonics Journal Single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array time-correlated single-photon counting (TSPC) time-to-amplitude converter (TAC) time-to-digital converter (TDC) |
| title | Complete and Compact 32-Channel System for Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting Measurements |
| title_full | Complete and Compact 32-Channel System for Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting Measurements |
| title_fullStr | Complete and Compact 32-Channel System for Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting Measurements |
| title_full_unstemmed | Complete and Compact 32-Channel System for Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting Measurements |
| title_short | Complete and Compact 32-Channel System for Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting Measurements |
| title_sort | complete and compact 32 channel system for time correlated single photon counting measurements |
| topic | Single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array time-correlated single-photon counting (TSPC) time-to-amplitude converter (TAC) time-to-digital converter (TDC) |
| url | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6617673/ |
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