Picosecond fluorescence lifetime detector

A gain-modulated silicon avalanche photodiode synchronized with a mode-locked argon-ion laser is used as the main component of a direct reading high-sensitivity flourescence lifetime detector with 10 ps time resolution and 2 photoelectrons per laser period sensitivity. Fluorescence lifetimes τ_f = 10 psto 10 ns of single exponential processes are indicated directly. Moreover, the detector can be used to measure τ_rot or one unknown parameter in a mixture of two fluorophores.