Photon-counting laser ranging with InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode in the passively quenched and 1-GHz sinusoidally gated

We experimentally studied photon-counting laser ranging at 1550 nm using InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode based single-photon detectors (SPDs). The SPDs operated in the passive quenching and 1-GHz sinusoidal gating Geiger modes, corresponding to continuous and quasi-continuous photon-counting ranging, respectively. Despite that the passively quenched SPD provided relatively high effective detection efficiency, quasi-continuous photon-counting ranging excelled the continuous one with fast acquisition speed and improved depth resolution due to the short deadtime and low timing jitter of the SPD in 1-GHz sinusoidally gated mode.     

基于纠缠光子方法测量光电探测器量子效率的研究

光辐射传感器的定标是保证遥感数据精度及可利用价值的基础支撑技术。现行辐射定标方法都需要建立高精度初级标准及标准传递链，传递环节是误差的主要来源。纠缠光子理论为实现“无标准传递”的辐射定标开辟了崭新的技术途径。报道了在光子计数模式下利用非线性光学的非经典效应绝对定标光电探测器的新方法，测量是通过BBO非线性晶体的参量下转换形成的702nm简并的纠缠光子方法来实现的。实验测得光电倍增管在该波长处的量子效率，结果显示有0.1%的偏差。该方法本身具有绝对性，不依赖于任何外部定标的辐射标准。     

Photon statistics of laserlike emission from polymeric scattering gain media

The coherent properties of the temporally and spectrally narrowed emission of laser-induced fluorescence of organic dyes hosted inside artificial scattering matrices (random lasers) were investigated. The excitation source was a frequency-doubled 200-fs pulsed laser emitting at 400 nm. Spectral and temporal features were simultaneously recorded with a spectrograph and a streak camera operating in photon-counting mode. Photon-number distributions were thus created. The temporal coherence of the laserlike emission above and below the excitation energy threshold was investigated from the photon-number distribution that was obtained.     

Time-dependent physical spectra of Gaussian Schell-model pulses

The time-dependent physical spectra introduced by Eberly and Wódkiewicz [J. Opt. Soc. Am. 67 (1977) 1252], observable with a photon-counting detector placed behind a Fabry-Perot filter, are evaluated for a class of temporally partially coherent non-stationary fields known as Gaussian Schell-model plane-wave pulses. Numerical comparisons between source spectra and observed spectra are provided and discussed, and several general features such as initial spectral broadening at the arrival of the pulse and a temporal pulse tail are illustrated. Closed-form approximations are obtained for the time evolution of the observable spectrum by evaluating the leading terms in an appropriate series expansion.     

Indirectly illuminated X-ray area detector for X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy

An indirectly illuminated X-ray area detector is employed for X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS). The detector consists of a phosphor screen, an image intensifier (microchannel plate), a coupling lens and either a CCD or CMOS image sensor. By changing the gain of the image intensifier, both photon-counting and integrating measurements can be performed. Speckle patterns with a high signal-to-noise ratio can be observed in a single shot in the integrating mode, while XPCS measurement can be performed with much fewer photons in the photon-counting mode. By switching the image sensor, various combinations of frame rate, dynamic range and active area can be obtained. By virtue of these characteristics, this detector can be used for XPCS measurements of various types of samples that show slow or fast dynamics, a high or low scattering intensity, and a wide or narrow range of scattering angles.     

基于X射线光子计数探测技术的材料K-edge特性识别实验研究

X射线光子计数探测器是多能谱CT成像技术的核心,其通过能量阈值可以选择记录不同能量的X射线光子,有助于分析不同材质的物理特性。利用搭建的基于光子计数探测器的多能谱CT系统,开展高纯度金属材料K-edge特性识别实验研究。通过设置探测器的不同能量阈值,在不同能量范围获取金属材料投影图像,利用投影图像灰度信息分析不同能量X射线的衰减特性,以识别金属材料K-edge特性。最终实验结果表明,基于光子计数探测器的X射线能谱CT系统,能够识别金属材料与特定能量X射线光子发生相互作用所表现出的K-edge特性。通过计算K-edge特征峰能量阈值与材料K-edge理论能量值之间的线性对应关系,对光子计数探测器的能量阈值进行了标定。     

拉曼激光雷达探测低对流层大气二氧化碳分布

介绍了中国科学院安徽光学精密机械研究所研制成功的我国第一台测量低对流层大气CO2时空分布的拉曼激光雷达系统,选用波长355nm的紫外激光作为光源,利用光子计数卡双通道采集大气中N2和CO2的拉曼后向散射信号。详细分析了拉曼激光雷达系统的定标方法,提出采用Li7500型H2O/CO2分析仪与拉曼激光雷达系统进行对比与标定,结果显示激光雷达与CO2分析仪数据变化趋势一致性较好,激光雷达具有很高的探测灵敏度与准确性,通过线性拟合水平方向标定误差小于0.2%,垂直方向小于1.4%。由标定关系反演出大气中CO2的时空分布,给出了合肥西郊低对流层大气CO2水平方向0～2.0km与垂直方向0～2.5km分布的典型测量结果。     

Sub-poissonian statistics of fluorescence from a single atom driven by a continuous wave laser field

Statistics of fluorescence photons emitted by a single two-level atom interacting with a continuous wave laser field are analyzed. The photon-counting distribution is calculated for the so-called intermediate fluorescence photons, i.e., those counted during the time interval between instants at which photons are emitted. The result is a sub-Poissonian (narrower than Poisson) distribution, which agrees with experimental observations. This intermediate-photon distribution is used to calculate the average number of fluorescence photons, the second factorial moment of the photon-counting distribution, and Mandel’s Q parameter commonly used to evaluate the deviation of photon statistics from the Poisson distribution. The theoretical expressions obtained for moments of the intermediate-photon distribution are different from well-known Mandel’s formulas.     

FPGA-based photon-counting phase-modulation fluorometer and a brief comparison with that operated in a pulsed-excitation mode

We have constructed a high-efficiency, photon-counting phase-modulation fluorometer (PC-PMF) using a field-programmable gate array, which is a modified version of the photon-counting fluorometer (PCF) that works in a pulsed-excitation mode (Iwata and Mizuno in Meas Sci Technol 28:075501, 2017). The common working principle for both is the simultaneous detection of the photoelectron pulse train, which covers 64 ns with a 1.0-ns resolution time (1.0 ns/channel). The signal-gathering efficiency was improved more than 100 times over that of conventional time-correlated single-photon-counting at the expense of resolution time depending on the number of channels. The system dead time for building a histogram was eliminated, markedly shortening the measurement time for fluorescent samples with moderately high quantum yields. We describe the PC-PMF and make a brief comparison with the pulsed-excitation PCF in precision, demonstrating the potential advantage of PC-PMF.     

Computer-based photon-counting lock-in for phase detection at the shot-noise limit

We implement a simple computer-based photon-counting lock-in that combines the signal-to-noise benefits of photon counting with lock-in detection. We experimentally specify the flatness and the noise characteristics of a flexible software implementation. The noise of amplitude and phase of the small signal is at the limit of photonic shot noise; from 1000 counted photons we reach an amplitude resolution of 4.5% and a phase resolution of 13 degrees . The photon-counting lock-in reduces illumination noise, detector dark count noise, and can suppress background. In particular, phase detection is useful to image the delay characteristics in microscopic systems by use of fluorescent probes that are designed to report membrane potential, temperature, or concentration in a chemical reaction.     

CanSAS‐IV

A two-day workshop on beamline integration and data formatting (HDF5/NeXus) of the EIGER detector was held in Baden, Switzerland, January 24–25, 2013. Its aim was to discuss the technical challenges inherent with the next generation of high-frame-rate, high-resolution X-ray imaging detectors, and specifically with the EIGER detector. EIGER is a photon-counting hybrid pixel detector developed at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and DECTRIS Ltd. With even higher spatial resolution and frame rates than its predecessor, the PILATUS detector, it will be able to continuously produce up to 3000 images per second. The corresponding extreme data rates generated by this and future detectors present a significant challenge for beamline integration of the detectors, for data handling by the users, and for data processing software. Efficient data flow, storage, and processing must be achieved to handle the huge data sets that will be produced in seconds by these devices.     

Enhancement of the infrared detection efficiency of silicon photon-counting avalanche photodiodes by use of silicon germanium absorbing layers

An enhancement of the infrared detection efficiency of Si photon-counting detectors by inclusion of SiGe absorbing layers has been demonstrated for what is believed to be the first time. An improvement of 30 times in detection efficiency at a wavelength of 1210 nm compared with that of an all-Si structure operated under identical conditions has been measured. The Si/Si(0.7)Ge(0.3) device is capable of room-temperature operation and has a response time of less than 300 ps.     

Information authentication using photon-counting double-random-phase encrypted images

Photon-counting imaging is integrated with optical encryption for information authentication. An image is double-random-phase encrypted, and a photon-limited encrypted image is obtained. The photon-counting encrypted image is generated with few photons and appears sparse; however, we show that it has sufficient information for decryption and authentication. The decrypted image cannot be easily visualized so that an additional layer of information protection is achieved. The authentication is carried out by recognition algorithms. This approach may make the verification process more robust against attacks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on integrating photon-counting imaging and encryption for authentication.     

Quantum key distribution using quantum-correlated photon sources

Quantum key exchanges using weak coherent (Poissonian) single-photon sources are open to attack by a variety of eavesdropping techniques. Quantum-correlated photon sources provide a means of flagging potentially insecure multiple-photon emissions and thus extending the secure quantum key channel capacity and the secure key distribution range. We present indicative photon-counting statistics for a fully correlated Poissonian multibeam photon source in which the transmitted beam is conditioned by photon number measurements on the remaining beams with non-ideal multiphoton counters. We show that significant rejection of insecure photon pulses from a twin-beam source cannot be obtained with a detector having a realistic quantum efficiency. However quantum-correlated (quadruplet or octuplet) multiplet photon sources conditioned by high efficiency multiphoton counters could provide large improvements in the secure channel capacity and the secure distribution range of high loss systems such as those using the low earth orbit satellite links proposed for global quantum key distribution. Received 14 July and Received in final form 20 November 2001     

Approximate approach to the quantum statistics of the superposition of coherent and chaotic fields

Formulae recently derived for the integrated intensity distribution, the photon-counting distribution and its factorial moments in the statistics of the superposition of multimode coherent and chaotic fields are analyzed in greater detail and their validity as approximate formulae for light of arbitrary spectrum is investigated. It is shown by explicit calculation of the third factorial moment of the photon-counting distribution for the superposition of a one-mode coherent field with a Gaussian Lorentzian field that the proposed formulae hold with very good accuracy over a wide range of conditions.The authors thank Dr. Z. Braunerová and M T. Kojecký of the Computer Center of Palacký University for their help with calculations.     

1.5 microm photon-counting optical time-domain reflectometry with a single-photon detector based on upconversion in a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide

Optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) is one of the most powerful tools in the characterization of optical fiber links. We demonstrate a photon-counting OTDR system at 1.5 microm with a single-photon detector, which combines frequency upconversion in a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide and a silicon avalanche photodiode. The system exhibits high sensitivity, good spatial resolution, and short measurement time.     

Laser depth measurement based on time-correlated single-photon counting

A method for acquiring range data based on time-correlated single-photon counting is described. This method uses a short-pulse ( approximately 10-ps) laser diode, a detector based on a silicon single-photon avalanche diode, and standard photon-counting timing electronics. The accuracy of the technique has been measured as approximately +/-30 microm in a laboratory experiment and corresponds closely to the results of a theoretical simulation.     

Picosecond time-resolved photoluminescence at detection wavelengths greater than 1500 nm

We report what is to our knowledge the first application of high-efficiency InGaAs/InP photon-counting diode detectors in time-resolved photoluminescence measurements at wavelength greater than 1500 nm. When they were cooled to 77 K and used in conjunction with the time-correlated single-photon counting technique, the detectors were capable of an instrumental response of 230 ps and a noise equivalent power of 2x10(-17)W Hz(-1/2) . Preliminary measurement of a semiconductor heterostructure indicates sensitivity at photogenerated carrier densities as low as 10(14)cm (-3) . This development facilitates the detailed characterization of dominant recombination mechanisms in semiconductor optoelectronic materials and devices designed to operate in the third telecommunications spectral window.     

Photon-counting technique for rapid fluorescence-decay measurement

We report on a novel laser-induced fluorescence triple-integration method (LIFTIME) that is capable of making rapid, continuous fluorescence lifetime measurements by a unique photon-counting technique. The LIFTIME has been convolved with picosecond time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence, which employs a high-repetition-rate mode-locked laser, permitting the eventual monitoring of instantaneous species concentrations in turbulent flames. We verify the technique by application of the LIFTIME to two known fluorescence media, diphenyloxazole (PPO) and quinine sulfate monohydrate (QSM). PPO has a fluorescence lifetime of 1.28 ns, whereas QSM has a fluorescence lifetime that can be varied from 1.0 to 3.0 ns. From these liquid samples we demonstrate that fluorescence lifetime can currently be monitored at a sampling rate of up to 500 Hz with less than 10% uncertainty (1sigma) .     

A Photon-Counting Full-Waveform Lidar

We present the results of using a photon-eounting full-waveform lidar to obtain detailed target information with high accuracy.The parameters of the waveforms(i.e.,vertical structure,peak position,peak amplitude,peak width and backscatter cross section)are derived with a high resolution limit of 31 mm to establish the vertical structure and scattering properties of targets,which contribute to the recognition and classification of various scatterers.The photon-counting full-waveform lidar has higher resolution than linear-mode full-waveform lidar,and it can obtain more specific target information compared to photon-counting discrete-point lidar,which can provide a potential alternative technique for tomographic surveying and mapping.