Dynamic time-correlated single-photon counting laser ranging

We demonstrate a photon counting laser ranging experiment with a four-channel single-photon detector(SPD). The multi-channel SPD improve the counting rate more than 4×10~7 cps, which makes possible for the distance measurement performed even in daylight. However, the time-correlated single-photon counting(TCSPC) technique cannot distill the signal easily while the fast moving targets are submersed in the strong background. We propose a dynamic TCSPC method for fast moving targets measurement by varying coincidence window in real time. In the experiment, we prove that targets with velocity of 5 km/s can be detected according to the method, while the echo rate is 20% with the background counts of more than 1.2×10~7 cps.

Improved transient electroluminescence technique based on time-correlated single-photon counting technology to evaluate organic mobility

The transient electroluminescence(EL)technique is widely used to evaluate the carrier mobility in the field of organic light emitting diodes.The traditional analog detection strategy using oscilloscopes is generally limited since the background noise causes an underestimation of the mobility value.In this paper,we utilize time-correlated single-photon counting(TCSPC)to probe the transient EL for mobility calculation.The measurements on tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum(Alq3)show that the electron mobilities obtained using the TCSPC technique are slightly higher than those obtained from the analog method at all the investigated voltages.Moreover,the TCSPC mobilities demonstrate weaker dependence on the root of electrical field compared to the oscilloscope mobilities.These improvements are attributed to the unique principle of TCSPC,which quantifies the EL intensity by counting the number of single-photon pulses,improving its single-photon sensitivity and elimi-nating the negative impacts of electrical noise.These advantages make TCSPC a powerful technique in the characterization of time-resolved electroluminescence.

Ultra-low power anti-crosstalk collision avoidance light detection and ranging using chaotic pulse position modulation approach

A novel concept of collision avoidance single-photon light detection and ranging（LIDAR） for vehicles has been demonstrated, in which chaotic pulse position modulation is applied on the transmitted laser pulses for robust anti-crosstalk purposes. Besides, single-photon detectors（SPD） and time correlated single photon counting techniques are adapted, to sense the ultra-low power used for the consideration of compact structure and eye safety. Parameters including pulse rate, discrimination threshold, and number of accumulated pulses have been thoroughly analyzed based on the detection requirements, resulting in specified receiver operating characteristics curves. Both simulation and indoor experiments were performed to verify the excellent anti-crosstalk capability of the presented collision avoidance LIDAR despite ultra-low transmitting power.

Fast fluorescence lifetime imaging techniques:A review on challenge and development

Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy(FLIM)is increasingly used in biomedicine,material science,chemistry,and other related research fields,because of its advantages of high specificity and sensitivity in monitoring cellular microenvironments,studying interaction between proteins,metabolic state,screening drugs and analyzing their efficacy,characterizing novel materials,and diagnosing early cancers.Understandably,there is a large interest in obtaining FLIM data within an acquisition time as short as possible.Consequently,there is currently a technology that advances towards faster and faster FLIM recording.However,the maximum speed of a recording technique is only part of the problerm.The acquisition time of a FLIM image is a complex function of many factors.These include the photon rate that can be obtained from the sample,the amount of information a technique extracts from the decay functions,the fficiency at which it determines fluorescence decay parameters from the recorded photons,the demands for the accuracy of these parameters,the number of pixels,and the lateral and axial resolutions that are obtained in biological materials.Starting from a discussion of the parameters which determine the acquisition time,this review will describe existing and emerging FLIM techniques and data analysis algo-rithms,and analyze their performance and recording speed in biological and biomedical applications.

Terpyridine-derived Zn^(2+) Selective Fluorescence Sensor: Ratiometric Fluoroionophoric Behavior Study

A sensitive and selective zinc ion ratiometric fluorescence sensor has been synthesized and characterized. This material displays dual fluorescence. After the material was bonded to a closed-shell metal ion, such as Zn2＋, the recovery of the local excited fluorescence of the material-Zn2＋ complex, largely at the expense of the intramolecular charge transfer fluorescence, is consistent with the difference between selected orbital transitions of the free dye and the metal-chelated complex. For instance, the contribution of the πtpy→πtpy, transition becomes more prominent. This is also consistent with the results of the fluorescence decay behavior, measured via a time-correlated single photon counting setup. In contrast, the corresponding open shell Ni2＋ -bound complex quenches both kinds of photoluminescence, due to spin-orbit coupling.

提高超导纳米线单光子探测器计数率的室温读出电路

计数率是超导纳米线单光子探测器(SNSPD)的重要参数,介绍了一种在室温端提高SNSPD计数率的方法及其测量装置。首先,基于SNSPD系统的分布式电路模型,仿真分析了信号传输完整性和计数率的影响因素;进而,通过引入极低漏热柔性线解决信号完整性问题,实现在室温端串联电阻提升SNSPD计数率的系统。通过室温端串联150Ω的电阻,在不影响SNSPD系统探测效率以及暗计数率的基础上,器件的计数率提高5.3倍,该方法操作简单,可以满足实时提高SNSPD计数率的需求。

基于伪随机码调制和单光子计数的星载测高计仿真

为使星载激光高度计实现高空间分辨率，提出了一种联合采用伪随机码调制光纤激光器和单光子计数的测距方法。讨论了此方法的实施方案，推导了此方法用于测高时的信噪比公式。对方案中的激光发射功率、接收望远镜口径对信噪比的影响进行了数值模拟。对系统参数进行分析，得到了相关参数的关系和优化的参数。结果表明接收望远镜口径为0．8～1m，激光出射功率约为10w，伪随机码调制宽度为600μs，调制速率为1GHz时。荩于伪随机码调制和单光子计数的星载激光测高计能够使系统信噪比达到10，距离分辨率达到15cm。

雪崩光电二极管的雪崩发光串扰研究

在使用时间关联单光子计数的量子保密通信、量子密码术等量子光学领域中,雪崩光电二极管(APD)拥有广泛的应用。然而在其工作过程中,吸收层接收到光子形成载流子,载流子个数在倍增层进行指数型增益,每个载流子通过P-N结结点均有一定概率发出光子,发出的光子在一定条件下会串扰进入另一个雪崩二极管。在盖革模式下进行单光子探测时,这种串扰光子会严重影响时间关联单光子计数的实验结果。研究了APD雪崩原理,实验中做出了串扰峰对比度比较高的现象,分析了影响串扰峰间距和形状的因素,提出通过光隔离规避串扰现象,并通过实验验证了这种避免串扰方法的可行性。

超导纳米线延迟线单光子成像器件进展及应用

单光子成像技术通过对每个光子携带的时空信息进行探测,实现对物体图像的重构。基于超导纳米线的单光子探测器具有高效率、低时间抖动、宽响应波段的优势,非常适合单光子成像场景的需求。超导纳米线延迟线单光子成像器件是一种新型的单光子成像器件,它利用超导纳米线特有的高动态电感构造低速微波传输线,通过对输出电脉冲进行时间逻辑分析,同步读取光子的到达时刻和空间位置。本文将介绍这种成像器件的设计原理、几何结构和读出方式。同时,介绍基于此成像器件在强背景噪声下的单光子成像实验,证明了通过高性能器件和重构算法的联合优化所实现的成像系统性能增强。

Resolution and contrast enhancement of laser-scanning multiphoton microscopy using thulium-doped upconversion nanoparticles

High-contrast optical imagi ng is achievable using phosphoresce nt labels to suppress the short-lived background due to the optical backscatterand autofluoresce nee.However,the long-lived phosphorescence is generally incompatible with high-speed laser-scan ning imaging modalities.Here,we show that upc on versi on nan oparticles of structure NaYF4:Yb co-doped with 8%Tm(8T-UCNP)in combi nation with a commerciallaser-scanning multiphoton microscopy are uniquely suited for labeling biological systems to acquire high-resolution images with the enhancedcon trast.In comparison with many phosphoresce nt labels,the 8T-UCNP emission lifetime of-15μs affords rapid image acquisition.Thehigh-order optical nonlinearity of the 8T-UCNP(n=4,as confirmed experimentally and theoretically)afforded pushing the resolution limitattain able with UCNPs to the diffraction-limit.The contrast enha nceme nt was achieved by suppressing the backgro und using(i)ban dpassspectral filtering of the narrow emission peak of 8T-UCNP at 455-nm,and(ii)time-gating implemented with a time-correlated single-photon counting system that demonstrated the contrast enhancement of>2.5-fold of polyethyle neimine-coated 8T-UCNPs take n up by huma nbreast adeno carcinoma cells SK-BR-3.As a result,discrete 8T-UCNP nan oparticles became clearly observable in the freshly excised splee ntissue of laboratory mice 15-min post in trave nous injectio n of an 8T-UCNP solution.The dem on strated approach paves the way forhigh-contrast,high-resoluti on,and high-speed multiphot on microscopy in challe nging envir onments of i ntense autofluorescence,exogenous staining,and turbidity,as typically occur in intravital imaging.

Single-photon microwave photonics

With the rapid development of microwave photonics technology, high-speed processing and ultra-weak signal detection capability have become the main bottlenecks in many applications. Thanks to the ultraweak signal detection capability and the extremely low timing jitter properties of single-photon detectors, the combination of single-photon detection and classical microwave photonics technology may provide a solution to break the above bottlenecks. In this paper, we first report a novel concept of singlephoton microwave photonics(SP-MWP), a SP-MWP signal processing system with phase shifting and frequency filtering functionalities is demonstrated based on a superconducting nanowire single photon detector(SNSPD) and a successive time-correlated single photon counting(TCSPC) module.Experimental results show that an ultrahigh optical sensitivity down to-100 d Bm has been achieved,and the signal processing bandwidth is only limited by the timing jitter of single-photon detectors. In the meantime, the proposed system demonstrates an ultrahigh anti-interference capability, only the signal which is phase locked by the trigger signal in TCSPC can be extracted from the detected signals combining with noise and strong interference. The proposed SP-MWP concept paves a way to a novel interdisciplinary field of microwave photonics and quantum mechanism, named by quantum microwave photonics.

Fluorescence lifetime measurement from a designated single-bunch in the BEPCⅡ colliding mode

Fluorescence lifetime measurement in the time domain requires excitation from a well separated single bunch using synchrotron light sources. In the colliding mode of the Beijing Electron Positron Collider Ⅱ （BEPCⅡ）, a hybrid filling pattern was realized such that a single bunch was placed in the middle of a large gap between two multi-bunch groups. Detection of fluorescence lifetime, based on the excitation of the light pulse from this designated single-bunch, was established at Beamline 4B8 of the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility （BSRF）. The timing signal of the BEPCII was utilized as a trigger to gate this fluorescence event. L-Tryptophan amino acid, a known lifetime standard, was selected to assess the lifetime measurement performance. The measured lifetime was consistent in both colliding and single-bunch mode with the time resolution down to 450 ps. Moreover, both the bunch purity and the fine structure of the hybrid filling pattern were characterized.

基于单光子计数激光雷达的恒虚警检测研究

本文围绕光子计数激光雷达在噪声背景下的目标检测问题,利用其回波雷达信号的特点,设计了一种降噪预处理方法,继而提出了一种改进的恒虚警检测方法。该方法能在目标回波较弱时自适应地对不同宽度的回波进行检测,同时能够保持较高的检测概率。仿真结果显示:相比传统的信号检测方法,本文所提方法的检测性能更优。实验结果表明,在噪声较强或回波信号较弱的情况下,所提检测方法依然可以以较高的检测概率检测到目标。相比当前的检测方法,在相同信噪比环境下,所提检测方法可使目标的平均检测概率提高40%。

双通道符合计数光子外差探测系统仿真构建与研究

本文提出将符合测量方法用于光子外差测速技术中,将光子符合计数模式应用于光子外差测速系统,能够在一定程度上减少背景噪声、暗噪声和后脉冲带来的光子误计数,提高信噪比等测速性能。基于外差原理与单光子探测的泊松响应,以及光子符合计数原理,本文仿真研究了双通道符合计数光子外差系统的性能,利用1550 nm连续波激光器探测匀速运动目标,结果表明,双通道符合计数模式下中频信号功率谱的信噪比明显高于单通道自由运行模式和一阶滤波下的功率谱信噪比。随着信号光子数增加,两种计数模式的信噪比能够相差2~3 dB。针对该方法,又进一步通过仿真研究了本振光强、背景噪声、中频频率、探测时长四个因素对双通道符合计数光子外差测速系统性能的影响。结果表明,随着本振光强与信号光强的比值逐渐增大,系统信噪比先增大后减小,在k_(L)=3附近时达到最大;背景噪声越大,饱和信号光子数越大,饱和信噪比越低;探测时长越长,饱和信噪比提高幅度越大;而在探测带宽之内,中频频率也即运动目标的速度对结果影响较小。本文从改变前端光子计数模式的角度提高光子外差探测系统的性能,为提高光子外差测速的信噪比拓宽了思路。