In many time-domain single-photon measurements, wide dynamic range (more than 5 orders of magnitude) is required in short acquisition time (few seconds). We report on the results of a novel technique based on a time-gated Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) able to increase the dynamic range of optical investigations. The optical signal is acquired only in well-defined time intervals. Very fast 200-ps gate-ON transition is used to avoid the undesired strong signal, which can saturate the detector, hide the fainter useful signal and reduce the dynamic range. In experimental measurements, we obtained a dynamic range approaching 8 decades in few minutes of acquisition.

Fast-gated single-photon counting technique widens dynamic range and speeds up acquisition time in time-resolved measurements

TOSI, ALBERTO;DALLA MORA, ALBERTO;ZAPPA, FRANCO;GULINATTI, ANGELO;CONTINI, DAVIDE;PIFFERI, ANTONIO GIOVANNI;SPINELLI, LORENZO;TORRICELLI, ALESSANDRO;CUBEDDU, RINALDO
2011-01-01

Abstract

In many time-domain single-photon measurements, wide dynamic range (more than 5 orders of magnitude) is required in short acquisition time (few seconds). We report on the results of a novel technique based on a time-gated Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) able to increase the dynamic range of optical investigations. The optical signal is acquired only in well-defined time intervals. Very fast 200-ps gate-ON transition is used to avoid the undesired strong signal, which can saturate the detector, hide the fainter useful signal and reduce the dynamic range. In experimental measurements, we obtained a dynamic range approaching 8 decades in few minutes of acquisition.
2011
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11311/607293
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