Ultra-compact 32-channel system for time-correlated single-photon counting measurements

S. Antonioli; A. Cuccato; L. Miari; I. Labanca; I. Rech; M. Ghioni

doi:10.1117/12.2017408

6 May 2013 Ultra-compact 32-channel system for time-correlated single-photon counting measurements

S. Antonioli, A. Cuccato, L. Miari, I. Labanca, I. Rech, M. Ghioni

Proceedings Volume 8773, Photon Counting Applications IV; and Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Transfer and Processing; 87730D (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2017408
Event: SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics, 2013, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

Modern Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting applications require to detect spectral and temporal fluorescence data simultaneously and from different areas of the analyzed sample. These rising quests have led the development of multichannel systems able to perform high count rate and high performance analysis. In this work we describe a new 32-channel TCSPC system designed to be used in modern setups. The presented module consists of four independent 8-channel TCSPC boards, each of them including two 4-channel Time-Amplitude Converter arrays. These TAC arrays are built-in 0.35 μm Si-Ge BiCMOS technology and are characterized by low crosstalk, high resolution, high conversion rate and variable full-scale range. The 8-channel TCSPC board implements an 8-channel ADC to sample the TAC outputs, an FPGA to record and organize the measurement results and a USB 2.0 interface to enable real-time data transmission to and from an external PC. Experimental results demonstrate that the acquisition system ensures high performance TCSPC measurements, in particular: high conversion rate (5 MHz), good time resolution (down to 30 ps_FWHM with the full scale range set to 11 ns) and low differential non-linearity (rms value lower than 0.15% of the time bin width). We design the module to be very compact and, thanks to the reduced dimensions of the 8-channel TCSPC board (95×40 mm), the whole system can be enclosed in a small aluminum case (160×125×30 mm).

Citation Download Citation

S. Antonioli, A. Cuccato, L. Miari, I. Labanca, I. Rech, and M. Ghioni "Ultra-compact 32-channel system for time-correlated single-photon counting measurements", Proc. SPIE 8773, Photon Counting Applications IV; and Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Transfer and Processing, 87730D (6 May 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2017408

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available