Photon counter
Authors: Cristian Morari, Cristian Tudoran
Keywords: photon counting, quantum optics, quantum communications, microcontrollers
Applications
Quantum communications means transfer of information by utilizing processes of quantum i.e. random by their nature. To make this possible it is necessary to utilize specific capabilities for transmitting and receiving light at very low intensities, i.e. at the limit of a single photon/pulse of information. From a practical point of view these are provided by electronic devices that allow photon counting.
The pulse counters produced by INCDTIM can be used in the field of quantum communications as well as in related fields requiring automatic information processing or analysis of low intensity light sources (i.e. with an order of magnitude corresponding to one photon/pulse). Our device allows the processing of output singnal from several types of single photon detectors with a rate of detection signals up to 70 MHz.
Innovative aspects
To determine the number of photons in a given pulse, electrical signals generated by commercial detectors are analyzed using microcontrollers.
The use of microcontrollers allows us to easlly implement a large number of software requirements for the data produce by the counterp, such as photon counting, statistical analysis of photon number or time duration between successive photon detections, and correlation of photon emission time with detection time.
Technology
By combining commercial detectors with our own numerator, we can produce and program modules for photon counting and/or analysis of extremely small current intensities (i.e. on the order of 10-10 A) depending on the needs of the experiment.
We use 32-bit microcontrollers with frequencies from 600 MHz up to 1 GHz in assemblies designed at INCDTIM; we design the interface with the sensing equipment (e.g. BNC signal, USB, Ethernet). Several geometrical configurations have been realized to integrate the modules into other devices. The modules are programmable via USB according to specific needs.
Advantages
- High degree of data reproducibility/ stability in operation
- Simplicity in operation
- Versatility, ensured by the possibility to easily re-program the circuit
- Low production cost
Patent
Patent 00321 (A0)
Title: Discriminator circuit and algorithm for single photon coincidence detection
Inventors: Morari Cristian Ioan, Tudoran Cristian Daniel, Turcu Romulus Valeriu Flaviu