Iterative correction for ‘pile-up’ in single-photon lifetime measurement

A novel iterative algorithm is proposed to correct for pulse, or photon, ‘pile-up’ in the measurement of temporal intensity profiles using time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC). Despite the existence of correction algorithms since 1968, most TCSPC experiments are operated in a very low photon-count mode to avoid pulse pile-up effects in the data. This is inefficient and time-consuming, but is the preferred mode of operation as the current correction algorithms are only applicable under conditions of constant source pulse energy. The advantage of the proposed algorithm is that it can be operated under conditions of variable pulse energy. The effectiveness of the algorithm on simulated data is demonstrated and compared with that of the existing method. 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.