Excelitas’ Family of Single Photon Counting Modules (SPCMs) are self-contained modules that meet the low light level analytical detection demands of confocal microscopy, fluorescence, luminescence, and TCSPC. Excelitas' SPCMs offer market-leading photon counting performance in parameters like high Photon Detection Efficiency (PDE), low afterpulsing, highest uniformity over an active area, high linear dynamic range, and low dark counts. Excelitas’ entire series of single photon counting modules are designed and built to be fully RoHS-compliant.
Our SPCMs were the first APD-operated photon counting devices on the market. They use a unique APD that was developed specifically to be operated in so-called “Geiger-mode,” which means operated above breakdown voltage, so that a single incoming photon triggers an avalanche of electrons already large enough to be detected and counted as an electronic pulse. The SPCM uses a unique silicon avalanche photodiode (SLiK) with a circular active area intended for peak photon detection efficiency. The photodiode is both thermoelectrically-cooled and temperature-controlled, ensuring stabilized performance despite ambient temperature changes.
Excelitas’ SPCMs perform well in a variety of cutting-edge applications including:
- Particle Sizing
- Confocal Microscopy
- Ultra-Sensitive Fluorescence
- Luminescence
- Time-correlated Single Photon Counting
- Single Molecule Detection
- Astronomic Observations
- Optical Range Finding
- Quantum Cryptography
SPCM-AQRH
The enhanced SPCM-AQRH offers an unmatched dynamic range and detects single photons over the wavelength range of 400 nm to 1060 nm. Leveraging a unique silicon avalanche photodiode with a circular active area, it achieves peak photon detection efficiency of more than 70% at 700 nm over a 180 µm diameter active area to deliver maximum efficiency. The photodiode is both thermoelectrically cooled and temperature controlled, ensuring stabilized performance despite ambient temperature changes. It also offers over-illumination protection which protects it from ambient light.
SPCM-AQRH-TR
The new SPCM-AQRH-TR module is performance optimized specifically to meet the needs of the time-correlated single photon counting market and is intended for highly focused applications like fluorescence lifetime measurements and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. If offers an optimized timing resolution of <250 ps.
SPCM-AQRH-FC
The fiber coupled version of the performance-enhanced Single Photon Counting Module, the SPCM-AQRH-FC takes advantage of the unique performance of our SliK Single Photon Counting Avalanche Photodiode capabilities. The SPCM-AQRH-FC is an easy-to use solid state photon counter with pre-installed, optically aligned FC connector, where the modular approach takes care of high voltage supply, active quenching and reset, signal processing, active cooling and stabilization. The modules have an over-illumination protection and cannot be damaged by ambient light.
SPCM-NIR
The SPCM-NIR is a Single Photon Counting Module specifically selected and performance-optimized for the near infra-red wavelength spectrum. It has peak single photon detection efficiency typically better than 73% while maintaining uniformity over a 180 μm diameter active area. This module achieves enhanced red and NIR sensitivity while maintaining such other performance parameters of the standard SPCM-AQRH, such as outstanding uniformity, overload protection, temperature stability and linearity.
SPCM-AQ4C
The SPCM-AQ4C is a 4-channel photon counting array module capable of detecting single photons from each channel simultaneously and independently from another. Each avalanche photodiode is both thermoelectrically cooled and temperature controlled, ensuring stabilized performance despite changes in the ambient temperature. The SPCM-AQ4C card uses a circuit with a peak count rate >4 M c/s for short bursts of time on all 4 channels and a count rate of 1.5 M c/s for continuous operation. This module also has a fully designed and ready to use interface board, the SPCM-AQ4C-IO, which facilitates connecting power and signal connections to the SPCM-AQ4C module.
Read the latest press release on Excelitas' newest SPCM offerings.