SPAD 23 single-photon detector

SPAD 23 from PI Imaging is a single-photon detector array designed to advance research in super-resolution imaging, fluorescence lifetime measurements, quantum optics and advanced microscopy. Its 23 hexagonally packed pixels allow researchers to generate super-resolution images beyond the diffraction limit, precisely time-stamp individual photons for lifetime imaging and characterise single-photon sources for quantum applications, making it a good solution for a wide range of experiments.

The SPAD 23 combines photon-counting and time-tagging capabilities to deliver sensitivity, precision and flexibility. It is designed as a solution for a confocal scanning set-up as each pixel can act as a virtual pinhole in confocal scanning set-ups, improving resolution and contrast. Fabricated using a CMOS process, the detector features an ultra-low dark count rate of less than 100 counts per second and microlenses that enhance detection efficiency to over 45%. Real-time photon processing is handled by a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), supporting up to 154 million counts per second across the array, while per-pixel time-to-digital converters enable timing resolution down to 20 picoseconds at maximum photon flux.

Designed for seamless integration, the SPAD 23 requires only a 5 V power adapter and USB3 connection, with additional SMA connectors and flexible mounting options for existing optical set-ups. Researchers can operate the system through an intuitive software interface for rapid prototyping and data acquisition or take full control remotely via TCP/IP using Matlab, LabVIEW, Python or Octave.

With its combination of high-performance detection, precise timing and versatile integration, the SPAD 23 is engineered to provide researchers with a powerful tool for microscopy, single-photon imaging and quantum optics research.