极紫外波段微通道板光子计数探测器

研究了一种极紫外波段微通道板（MCP）光子计数探测器,用于探测地球等离子体层中极微弱的30.4 nm辐射。通过改变电压、温度等参数对比了该微通道板光子计数探测器的暗噪声和分辨率的变化。结果表明：微通道板探测器的暗噪声主要来源于残余气体离子反馈和热噪声,因此要降低探测器暗噪声,应对微通道进行彻底的预处理除气,并尽量避免探测器在高温状态下工作,常温下经过预处理的微通道板光子探测系统的暗计数率仅为0.34 count/（s.cm2）。系统的分辨率主要受电压和计数率的影响,受温度影响不明显。由于不同的微通道板有不同的耐压范围,过小或过大的电压或计数率都会造成系统分辨率的降低。     

光子计数式光电倍增管四象限型和弱光像增强CCD跟踪系统的性能比较

基于光子计数式光电倍增管四象限跟踪系统和弱光像增强CCD跟踪系统的基本原理，分析了这两种跟踪系统的测量噪声误差、系统控制特性和系统闭环噪声等，并重点根据实验结果分析和比较了这两种跟踪系统的性能。结果表明，光子计数式光电倍增管四象限跟踪系统的性能优于弱光像增强CCD跟踪系统。     

光纤耦合对量子密钥分配系统光子探测的影响

借助量子密码术和卫星可以实现全球性的保密通信网络。但使用现有的单光子探测模块搭建星地量子密钥分配(QKD)系统,接收端就面临着空间光-多模光纤耦合的技术挑战。空间光-多模光纤耦合条件对星地量子密钥分配系统的跟瞄精度提出了严格要求。理论分析和定量计算表明,跟瞄精度ε与光束发散角θdiv的比值ε/dθiv≤0.5时,星地量子密钥分配系统的光子探测概率较高,系统可以正常工作;ε/dθiv≤0.1时,系统处于量子密钥产生速率为几kb/s的更理想状况。采用短波长更有利于满足空间光-多模光纤耦合条件,同时有利于系统获得更高的密钥产生速率。     

Feedback controller design for tracking a single fluorescent molecule

In this paper, we revisit the problem of tracking a single fluorescent molecule in a laser-scanning confocal microscope. We utilize optimal control theory to design a feedback controller and use numerical simulation to analyze its ability to track a molecule in two dimensions. A major theme in this paper is the inclusion of all relevant experimental limitations including moderate signal-to-noise fluorescence detection and the finite-bandwidth response of an electromechanical translation stage. The results presented here demonstrate the experimental feasibility of tracking single fluorescent molecules with diffusion coefficients as large as 0.1 m²/ms. We show that for molecules that are even moderately confined along a third dimension (as, for example, by microscope cover slides), the two-dimensional tracking algorithm appears to be robust and effective. We expect this technology to enable single-molecule experiments with long observation times and high time-resolution. PACS 87.64.Tt; 87.64.Ni; 87.15.Vv     

Complete single-photon counting and timing module in a microchip

A complete module for single-photon counting and timing is demonstrated in a single chip. Features comparable with or better than commercially available macroscopic modules are obtained by integration of an active-quenching and active-reset circuit in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology together with a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD). The integrated SPAD has a 12-microm-diameter sensitive area and operates with an overvoltage above breakdown adjustable up to 20 V. With a 5-V overvoltage the photon detection efficiency peaks above 40% around 500 nm, and the dark-counting rate is lower than 600 counts/s at room temperature. The overall counting dead time is 33 ns.     

微光图象光子计数器象管光子增益测试研究

本文介绍了微光图象光子计数器象管的主要构成及其与常规二代微光象增强器的区别.在论述单通道光子计数技术原理的基础上,提出了微光图象光子计数器象管的主要参数-光子增益的测试原理和方法,建立了测试系统.对微光图象光子计数器象管的光子增益进行了实测,并将测试结果与常规二代微光象增强器的亮度增益进行了比较,给出了光子增益的估算公式.     

Freezing coherent field growth in a cavity by the quantum zeno effect

We have frozen the coherent evolution of a field in a cavity by repeated measurements of its photon number. We use circular Rydberg atoms dispersively coupled to the cavity mode for an absorption-free photon counting. These measurements inhibit the growth of a field injected in the cavity by a classical source. This manifestation of the quantum Zeno effect illustrates the backaction of the photon number determination onto the field phase. The residual growth of the field can be seen as a random walk of its amplitude in the two-dimensional phase space. This experiment sheds light onto the measurement process and opens perspectives for active quantum feedback.     

Sub‐microsecond‐resolved multi‐speckle X‐ray photon correlation spectroscopy with a pixel array detector

Small‐angle X‐ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) measurements spanning delay times from 826 ns to 52.8 s were performed using a photon‐counting pixel array detector with a dynamic range of 0–3 (2 bits). Fine resolution and a wide dynamic range of time scales was achieved by combining two modes of operation of the detector: (i) continuous mode, where data acquisition and data readout are performed in parallel with a frame acquisition time of 19.36 µs, and (ii) burst mode, where 12 frames are acquired with frame integration times of either 2.56 µs frame^?1 or 826 ns frame^?1 followed by 3.49 ms or 1.16 ms, respectively, for readout. The applicability of the detector for performing multi‐speckle XPCS was demonstrated by measuring the Brownian dynamics of 10 nm‐radius gold and 57 nm‐radius silica colloids in water at room temperature. In addition, the capability of the detector to faithfully record one‐ and two‐photon counts was examined by comparing the statistical distribution of photon counts with expected probabilities from the negative binomial distribution. It was found that in burst mode the ratio of 2 s to 1 s is markedly smaller than predicted and that this is attributable to pixel‐response dead‐time.     

Improved Fluorescent Proteins for Single-Molecule Research in Molecular Tracking and Co-Localization

Three promising variants of autofluorescent proteins have been analyzed photophysically for their proposed use in single-molecule microscopy studies in living cells to compare their superiority to other fluorescent proteins previously reported regarding the number of photons emitted. The first variant under investigation the F46L mutant of eYFP has a 10% greater photon emission rate and > 50% slower photobleaching rate on average than the standard eYFP fluorophore. The monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP) has a fivefold lower photon emission rate, likely due to the monomeric content, and also a tenfold faster photobleaching rate than the DsRed fluorescent protein. In contrast, the previously reported eqfp611 has a 50% lower emission rate yet photobleaches more than a factor 2 slowly. We conclude that the F46L YFP and the eqfp611 are superior new options for single molecule imaging and tracking studies in living cells. Studies were also performed on the effects of forced quenching of multiple fluorescent proteins in sub-micrometer regions that would show the effects of dimerization at low concentration levels of fluorescent proteins and also indicate corrections to stoichiometry patterns with fluorescent proteins previously in print. We also introduce properties at the single molecule level of new FRET pairs with combinations of fluorescent proteins and artificial fluorophores. Authors contributed equally to this article.     

A Feasible Add-On Upgrade on a Commercial Two-Photon FLIM Microscope for Optimal FLIM-FRET Imaging of CFP-YFP Pairs

Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) based on time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) is a widely used method for fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Here we report a feasible add-on approach to upgrade a commercial two-photon FLIM microscope into a single-photon FLIM microscope which provides optimal FLIM-FRET imaging of FRET pairs consisting of cyan fluorescent proteins (CFPs) as the donor and yellow fluorescent proteins (YFPs) as the acceptor. The capability of the upgraded system is evaluated and discussed, and the imaging performance of the system is demonstrated using FLIM-FRET experiments with a representative CFP-YFP FRET pair (mCerulean-mCitrine).     

单光子计数探测系统的线性性能研究

利用单光子计数技术对微弱光进行探测具有与其他模拟法相比的多个优势,如有好的抗漂移性、高的信噪比、较宽的线性区等。线性性能是探测器的基本性能之一,利用叠加法和距离平方反比法测量单光子计数探测系统的线性范围,当非线性因子为0.05时,利用叠加法实验测得系统线性响应计数率为3.9×10~5 Counts/s,利用距离平方反比法实验测得系统线性响应计数率为5×10~5 Counts/s。结果表明,两种方法测得响应线性度一致性较好。分析了电子学系统的漏计误差对探测器系统线性范围的影响。实验表明,通过缩短电子学系统中甄别器的死区时间(td)可以提高系统的线性范围。     

Single-Photon Counting Multicolor Multiphoton Fluorescence Microscope

We present a multicolor multiphoton fluorescence microscope with single-photon counting sensitivity. The system integrates a standard multiphoton fluorescence microscope, an optical grating spectrograph operating in the UV–Vis wavelength region, and a 16-anode photomultiplier tube (PMT). The major technical innovation is in the development of a multichannel photon counting card (mC-PhCC) for direct signal collection from multi-anode PMTs. The electronic design of the mC-PhCC employs a high-throughput, fully-parallel, single-photon counting scheme along with a high-speed electrical or fiber-optical link interface to the data acquisition computer. There is no electronic crosstalk among the detection channels of the mC-PhCC. The collected signal remains linear up to an incident photon rate of 10⁸ counts per second. The high-speed data interface offers ample bandwidth for real-time readout: 2 MByte -stacks composed of 16 spectral channels, 256× 256 pixel image with 12-bit dynamic range can be transferred at 30 frames per second. The modular design of the mC-PhCC can be readily extended to accommodate PMTs of more anodes. Data acquisition from a 64-anode PMT has been verified. As a demonstration of system performance, spectrally resolved images of fluorescent latex spheres and ex-vivo human skin are reported. The multicolor multiphoton microscope is suitable for highly sensitive, real-time, spectrally-resolved three-dimensional imaging in biomedical applications.     

Single photon emitters based on Ni/Si related defects in single crystalline diamond

We present investigations on single Ni/Si related color centers produced via ion implantation into single crystalline type IIa CVD diamond. By testing different ion dose combinations we show that there is an upper limit for both the Ni and the Si dose (10¹² cm^?2 and 10¹⁰ cm^?2 resp.) due to the creation of excess fluorescent background. We demonstrate creation of Ni/Si related centers showing emission in the spectral range between 767?nm and 775?nm and narrow line-widths of ??2?nm FWHM at room temperature. Measurements of the intensity autocorrelation functions prove single-photon emission. The investigated color centers can be coarsely divided into two groups: Drawing from photon statistics and the degree of polarization in excitation and emission, we find that some color centers behave as two-level, single-dipole systems whereas other centers exhibit three levels and contributions from two orthogonal dipoles. In addition, some color centers feature stable and bright emission with saturation count rates up to 78?kcounts/s whereas others show fluctuating count rates and three-level blinking.     

Optimal strategy for trapping single fluorescent molecules in solution using the ABEL trap

Trapping of 10-nm-sized single fluorescent bio-molecules in solution has been achieved using high-speed position sensing and electrokinetic feedback forces in the Anti-Brownian ELectrokinetic (ABEL) trap. The high diffusion coefficient of small objects in solution requires very fast, real-time sensing of position, and this has been previously achieved using a simple rotating beam, but improved strategies are needed for the smallest objects, such as single nanometer-sized fluorescent molecules. At the same time, single molecules are limited in photon emission rate and total number of photons, so each emitted photon must be used as efficiently as possible. We describe a new controller design for the ABEL trap which features fast, knight’s tour scanning of an excitation beam on a 2D square lattice and a Kalman filter-based estimator for optimal position sensing. This strategy leads directly to a maximum-likelihood-based method to extract the diffusion coefficient of the object held in the trap. The effectiveness of the algorithms are demonstrated and compared to the simple rotating beam design through Monte Carlo simulations. Our new approach yields tighter trapping and a much improved ability to extract diffusion coefficients.     

Single-photon detector for long-distance fiber-optic quantum key distribution

We have investigated the performance of an InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode for photon counting at 1550 nm in the temperature range of thermoelectric cooling. A quantum efficiency of 13.7% was obtained at -55 degrees C , while the dark-count probability per gate (?1 ns) was kept as small as 2.4x10(-5) . The developed single-photon detector would yield a 104.4-km fiber-optic quantum key distribution in the ideal condition.     

High efficiency photon counting using stored light

We propose a method that can, in principle, achieve nearly ideal photon counting, by combining the techniques of photonic quantum memory and ion-trap quantum-state measurements. After mapping the quantum state of a propagating light pulse onto metastable collective excitations of a trapped cold atomic gas, it is possible to monitor the resonance fluorescence induced by an additional laser field that couples only to the metastable excited state. Even with a photon collection/detection efficiency as low as 10%, it is possible to achieve photon counting with efficiency exceeding 99%.     

光子计数模式下的目标探测与成像

 当光微弱到以单个光子发射时,成像系统只有利用光子计数模式才能探测到单光子信息。采用基于碰撞电离效应的全固态雪崩光电二极管作为探测元件,构成微光环境下的光子计数成像实验系统。该系统的硬件主要由雪崩光电二极管构成的单光子计数器、计算机、微光照度计、2维电控导轨、控制器、暗箱等组成。控制器的软件在Altera公司Quartus环境下设计,主要完成导轨运动的控制;上位机软件采用VC++编程实现系统的数据采集处理、系统功能控制和光子计数图像显示等。该系统为全固态结构,工作电压小于35 V,暗计数率小于4 Hz。所建光子计数成像系统在10－5 lx微光环境下实现了目标的探测成像。     

计数率和分辨时间对光场统计性质测量的影响——单探测器直接测量的实验分析

利用工作在盖革(Geiger)模式下的单光子探测器(single-photon-counting module, SPCM)，采取单个探测器直接对光子计数的方法，对相干光场及热光场的光子数统计性质进行了测量和分析. 通过改变计数率，调整分辨时间，系统地研究了光场二阶相干度测量值受实验条件的影响. 结果表明，在综合考虑系统中的各种因素对测量影响的情况下，通过选择合适的测试条件，可以利用单个单光子探测器直接探测的方法快速确定一个待测光场的二阶相干度. 实验表明在实测计数率为109 kc/s，分辨时间范围为2⁸ns—2¹²ns的条件下，该系统能很好地揭示相干光场和热光场的光子统计性质. 关键词： 光子统计 单光子探测器 二阶相干度     

Fast path and polarization manipulation of telecom wavelength single photons in lithium niobate waveguide devices

We demonstrate fast polarization and path control of photons at 1550?nm in lithium niobate waveguide devices using the electro-optic effect. We show heralded single photon state engineering, quantum interference, fast state preparation of two entangled photons, and feedback control of quantum interference. These results point the way to a single platform that will enable the integration of nonlinear single photon sources and fast reconfigurable circuits for future photonic quantum information science and technology.     

半导体自组织量子点量子发光机理与器件

介绍了自组织量子点单光子发光机理及器件研究进展.主要内容包括：半导体液滴自催化外延GaAs纳米线中InAs量子点和GaAs量子点的单光子发光效应、自组织InAs/GaAs量子点与分布布拉格平面微腔耦合结构的单光子发光效应和器件制备,单量子点发光的共振荧光测量方法、量子点单光子参量下转换实现的纠缠光子发射、单光子的量子存储效应以及量子点单光子发光的光纤耦合输出芯片制备等.