Single-Photon Counting Detectors

Single Photon Counting Detectors for TCSPC

Optimal fine ϕ-slicing for single-photon-counting pixel detectors

The data-collection parameters used in a macromolecular diffraction experiment have a strong impact on data quality. A careful choice of parameters leads to better data and can make the difference between success and failure in phasing attempts, and will also result in a more accurate atomic model. The selection of parameters has to account for the application of the data in various phasing met...

Photon-Counting Superconducting Detectors for Submillimeter Astronomy

We are developing superconducting direct detectors (Single Quasiparticle Photon Counter, or SQPC) for submillimeter astronomy that could detect individual photons. These devices measure the quasiparticles generated breaking Cooper-pairs by photon absorption. This photoconductive type of device could yield high quantum efficiency, few s response times, and sensitivities in the range of 10 -20 W/...

High Accuracy Calibration of Photon-Counting Detectors

We discuss a practical implementation of a photon-counting detector calibration using correlated photon pairs produced by parametric down-conversion. In this calibration scheme, the detection of a first photon triggers the measurement sequence aimed at detection of a second photon by a detector under test (DUT). We also describe measurements of radiant power with a photon-counting detector, whi...

Photon-counting optical coherence-domain reflectometry using superconducting single-photon detectors.

We consider the use of single-photon counting detectors in coherence-domain imaging. Detectors operated in this mode exhibit reduced noise, which leads to increased sensitivity for weak light sources and weakly reflecting samples. In particular, we experimentally demonstrate the possibility of using superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) for optical coherence-domain reflectometry (OCDR...