Overview
Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) detectors are available from several vendors as modules with integrated electronics. Dependent on the manufacturer these modules are named SPCM (Excelitas), MPPC/SiPM (Hamamatsu), PDM(Micro Photon Devices), COUNT (Laser Components), etc.
All supported detector modules present a TTL/CMOS output with a pulse width in the range of 10's of nanoseconds. The pulse frequency of that output reflects the actual photon rate at the active (optical) area of the module.
The TIC-8420 provides a convenient readout solution for those modules delivering the actual count rate to applications on the connected computer. The software application on the computer can be developed in Python, LabView, C, or any other compatible with standard libraries.
Module vendors and models
The following modules have a CMOS/TTL output suitable for operation with the TIC-8420 (non-exhaustive list):
- Excelitas
- SPCM-AQRH-1X, SPCM-AQRH-2X, SPCM-AQRH-3X, SPCM-NIR-1X, SPCM-NIR-2X, SPCM-NIR-3X
- Laser Components
- COUNT, COUNT BLUE, COUNT NIR, COUNT S, COUNT T series
- Thorlabs
- SPCM20A, SPCM50A
- Hamamatsu
- C14463-050GD C11202-*, C13001-01, C14076-01, C13366-*-GD, C13852-*-GD, C14455-*-GD, C14456-*-GD,
- ID-Quantique
- ID100, ID120, ID221, ID230
- MPD
- PDM series, PDC, PDM-IR
Due to the continuous event streaming architecture all measurements can be made on a zero-dead-time basis (back to back) without loss of data. Within the limits of bus speed (USB/PCI) events may be logged continuously.
In any mode, the acquisition of timing data begins with the ARM signal. The ARM signal can be given “on-demand” by software control, external pulse, or on periodic timer intervals (Figure ).
Block size Per ARM block a pre-defined count of measurements can be taken. The default count is 1, for a single measurement per ARM pulse. Setting the block size to zero results in continuously taken measurements started at a single ARM pulse.