PicoQuant

Picosecond pulsed diode laser drivers are designed as versatile devices that can control specialized laser or LED heads offered by PicoQuant.

All drivers allow control of the repetition rate and pulse energy of the connected heads. Drivers can be either single or multi-channel, with manual or computer control.

The strengths of the company's drivers are increased power, intelligent monitoring of laser diodes and ease of use, making it accessible to even novice laser users. Changing the emission wavelength is as simple as plugging in another laser head.

Laser diode-based devices that can operate at variable, user-configurable repetition rates up to 100 MHz. They cover discrete wavelengths from 255 nm to 1990 nm. Power levels range from µW to hundreds of mW for the most powerful fiber-amplified versions.

The LDH series offers a large range of intelligent laser heads compatible with the Taiko driver. The laser heads in this series provide wavelengths in the spectral range from 375 to 1550 nm and include power calibration. When coupled with Taiko, the optical output power can be monitored in both pulsed and continuous modes. In addition, wavelength calibration is available in CW mode.

The LED heads of the PLS series are compatible with Taiko and allow operation in pulsed and continuous mode. They combine short pulse duration, high repetition rate and high optical power in a compact and maintenance-free unit.

The VisUV/VisIR lasers are a versatile and flexible laser system based on the fiber amplifier with oscillator (MOFA) concept with optional frequency conversion. The VisUV platform offers up to 3 parallel laser beams at wavelengths from 266 nm to 590 nm with output power up to 100 mW.

The VisIR platform is ideal for high power applications in the infrared at 1064 or 1530 nm or as a depletion laser for STED microscopy at 766 nm.

The output of this laser is directly connected to a multi-stage fiber amplifier that increases the laser output by several dB while preserving other laser beam characteristics such as emission wavelength, polarization and pulse duration.

PicoQuant offers laser OEM solutions utilizing proven picosecond pulsed laser technologies as well as rectangular pulse shaping lasers. Based on these technologies, PicoQuant can provide high quality modules with customized designs and small footprints to meet customer needs in large scale production or system integration.

All CPDL series laser heads can be connected to different optical fibers (multi-mode, single-mode or single-mode with polarization support) via different types of connectors. FC/APC connectors are recommended because they prevent back reflections that can affect the stability of the laser.

The optical power output can be easily adjusted using the computer interface. Maximum average output power (at a maximum repetition rate of 100 MHz) typically ranges from a few mW for unamplified models, 15 to 60 mW for fiber-amplified models.

All PicoQuant lasers can be connected to optical fiber, either individually or in combination. Several fiber types are available, including single-mode, single-mode with polarization preservation and multimode. These fibers can be optionally equipped with various output connectors, collimation or even microfocus optics to best suit specific applications.

The Laser Coupling Unit (LCU) is a flexible platform that allows the optical outputs of up to 5 LDH and LDH-FA series laser heads to be combined into a single-mode fiber while maintaining polarization. When used in conjunction with the PDL multi-channel laser driver, the LCU provides a convenient and easy-to-use solution.

These circuits of varying degrees of complexity are the basis for a wide range of applications such as dual-focus time-resolved SSC, pulsed interleaved excitation (PIE), duty cycle optimized PIE, pump-probe measurements and STED microscopy.

Specialized optical and electrical pulse generators capable of delivering nanosecond pulses in the laser wavelength range from 375 to 1550 nm with adjustable pulse shape.

The PPL 512 / PPA 512 is a self-contained, computer-controlled laser platform for generating nanosecond pulses with programmable pulse shape. The resulting laser signal with a preset pulse shape is output into a single-mode fiber. Its compact form factor makes it ideal for integration into large amplified laser systems.

At the heart of the PPG 512 is a programmable signal generator that allows pulses to be generated in a 512-byte cyclic sequence, with a time resolution of 200 ps per byte. By loading a data set, an arbitrary pulse sequence can be specified with an amplitude resolution of 8 bits (0 to 255).

PicoQuant offers several modules for time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) and multi-channel scaling (MCS). Both single-channel and multi-channel versions with USB or PCIe interface are available. All devices operate in histogram mode and offer two timestamp options.

Due to the clever design of the ADC, the time correlated single photon counting capabilities can be fully utilized. Due to ultra-short dead times, multiple photons can be recorded per excitation cycle, even at the highest repetition rates achievable with modern picosecond pulsed lasers.

Each input channel also has easily accessible parameter settings that include trigger parameters as well as programmable time offsets and hold times.

Detectors include photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), hybrid photomultiplier tubes (HPTs), and single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) that cover various spectral ranges from UV to NIR. All detectors have time resolution in the picosecond range.

The PMA Hybrid is a compact detector based on a hybrid photomultiplier tube with Peltier thermoelectric cooling. The detector has two signal outputs: a negative polarity output pulse for timing and counting applications and a positive polarity analog output pulse proportional to the count rate. It can be connected, for example, to A/D converters.

The PDA-23 is a detection system for detecting single photons in the broad spectral range of 400-850 nm. It consists of an array of 23 single photon avalanche photodiodes (SPADs) with high fill factor and microlenses (effective fill factor > 80%), high photon detection and low temporal jitter.

Additional devices for photon counting studies include a router for the TCSPC module, a dedicated dual power supply for the SPAD, a picosecond resolution signal splitter, and a trigger diode.

Using the PHR 800 router, users can connect up to 4 single-photon detectors for simultaneous time-correlated multi-channel measurements. This provides the necessary information, such as color and/or polarization, and increases the efficiency of data acquisition. In addition, it enables sophisticated and fast multidimensional fluorescence detection methods in the life sciences or in analytics.

The DSN 102 dual power supply features an automatic fuse circuit that cuts the power supply voltage to the modules when critical levels of radiation exposure are reached. It can control two SPAD modules simultaneously, displaying the count rate of one selected module.

PicoQuant offers several fluorescence spectrometers ranging from compact benchtop spectrometers for training or daily laboratory research to high-end modular spectrometers with precise synchronization down to a few picoseconds. Samples can be liquid in standard cuvettes, solid or even wafer for in-line quality control.

The FluoTime 250 is a compact benchtop yet versatile long-life spectrometer for applications in biology, materials science and photochemistry. This setup allows users to perform routine laboratory work quickly, reliably and accurately.

The fully automated setup contains optics and electronics to record fluorescence and photoluminescence decays using time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) or multi-channel scaling (MCS) in the range of a few picoseconds to a few seconds. The FluoTime 250 can be equipped with an optional monochromator for the UV-visible spectral range.

The FluoTime 300 High Performance Fluorescence Spectrometer is a fully automated, high-performance fluorescence spectrometer for steady state, lifetime and phosphorescence measurements.

FluoTime 300 contains a complete set of optics and electronics for recording steady state spectra and fluorescence decays using time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) or multi-channel scaling (MCS) from a few picoseconds to a few seconds.

The system is designed for use with picosecond pulsed diode lasers, LEDs, or xenon lamps (constant and pulsed). Several detector options allow for a wide range of system configurations from UV to IR. The wide range of optional accessories makes the system an excellent standard for research and analysis.

Advanced science in many fields requires the quantification of molecular dynamics, the investigation of molecular properties or the study of interactions. A flexible and sensitive instrument is required to cover a wide range of research areas in biology and materials science.

The MicroTime 200 is the only commercial instrument that provides single molecule sensitivity and extremely high temporal resolution combined with outstanding capabilities and ease of use.
The instrument enables numerous measurements and analyses and is a versatile tool for relevant research and analysis.

The time-proven concept allows the MicroTime 200 to be used in a wide range of applications and studies. The open-ended design allows the system to be adapted to specialized experimental needs, but the device is also ideal for routine analytical tasks.

One of the most popular super-resolution imaging techniques is spontaneous emission suppression (STED) microscopy. STED is typically performed with confocal microscopes and is therefore ideal for addition to the MicroTime 200.

The integration of STED into the system was driven by maximizing reliability and ease of use. The system allows STED microscopy without lengthy alignment preparation, while still being able to modify the system and utilize the full capabilities of the MicroTime 200 open microscopy platform.

The MicroTime 200 STED excitation system is based on a dedicated laser coupler that combines the excitation lasers for the STED with the STED laser itself. The standard excitation wavelength is 640 nm, which can optionally be combined with additional lasers at 595 nm and 660 nm to produce two types of STED images.

The ideal tool for studying the photoluminescence of solid samples such as wafers, semiconductors or solar cells. The system is based on a conventional vertical microscope housing, which allows easy handling of samples of many different shapes and sizes. The MicroTime 100 can be supplied with either a handheld scanner or a 3D piezo scanner with µm or cm resolution.

The MicroTime 100 confocal microscope is a complete system for recording photoluminescence signals in small volumes using the single photon time correlation (TCSPC) technique. The system is based on a conventional vertical microscope housing combined with pulsed excitation, optics, TCSPC electronics and an efficient detector.

This combination of all components makes it possible to determine photoluminescence lifetimes from a few picoseconds, and with MicroTime 100 to a few milliseconds.

Combines state-of-the-art hardware and the latest software to deliver high-quality data and simplify daily operations. The system software includes context-oriented workflows for each technique, which improves accuracy, reproducibility and data quality.

Until now, there has been quite a challenge in integrating time-resolved fluorescence techniques. The new Luminosa microscope has been designed to address this challenge and enable rapid integration of these techniques. The system offers a new perspective on various research areas such as dynamic structural biology at the single molecule level, characterization of functional nanoparticles, and environmental sensing.

Luminosa also offers the option of using a galvo-scanner for high scanning speeds or a piezo-scanner to prevent signal loss on the scanning mirrors and capture more photons (20-30%, depending on wavelength).