Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Review of Scientific Instruments

Single photon phase fluorimetry with nanosecond time resolution

E. W. Schlag, H. L. Selzle, S. Schneider, J. G. Larsen

Published Mar 1, 1974• 17 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A multipoint correlation technique is described for the measurement of the fluorescence decay from a sample excited with modulated light, where the modulation and the response can be arbitrarily complex. In the case of weak fluorescence, individual photons are resolved which are so correlated. The apparatus has a high dynamic range at extremely low photon densities, or very high photon rates, only limited by the single pulse resolution time of fast photomultipliers and counters.

DOI
10.1063/1.1686630

Related papers

Photon-correlation Fourier spectroscopy

Xavier Brokmann, Moungi G. Bawendi, Laurent Coolen +1 more

We describe a method to probe the spectral fluctuations of a transition over broad ranges of frequencies and timescales with the high spectral resolution of Fourier spectroscopy, and a temporal resolution as high as the excited state lifetime, even in the limit of very low photocounting rates. The method derives from a simple relation between the fluorescence spectral dynamics of a single radi-ating dipole and its fluorescence intensity correlations at the outputs of a continuously scanning Michelson interferometer. These findings define an approach to investigate the fast fluorescence spectral dynamics of single molecules and other faint light sources beyond the time-resolution capabilities of standard spectroscopy experiments.

arXiv:physics/0604180•Optics Express•Jan 1, 2006•69 citations

Nanosecond time-resolved spectroscopy with a pulsed tunable dye laser and single photon time correlation

Richard S. Meltzer, R. M. Wood

A technique is described for performing nanosecond time-resolved spectroscopy for situations of extremely low emission rates. The system utilizes a N(2) laser pumped tunable dye laser and single photon time correlation techniques. It is applicable where there is need for nanosecond time resolution on emission which is either long-lived or has extremely low quantum efficiency and especially where monochromatic excitation is required. The technique is applied to the relaxation between a pair of excited states of Tb(3+):Y(OH):(3), where 5-nsec temporal resolution with 2- cm(-1) spectral resolution is easily obtained.

Applied Optics•May 1, 1977•16 citations

Novel technique for photon correlation measurements at high photon rates and resolutions

Dimitar Stoyanov

A novel technique for photon correlation measurements, based on the excitation of a resonant system by photon-detector single pulses, analog/digital sampling, and deconvolution, has been developed and analyzed experimentally and by computer simulations. The measured correlation function is expressed by a convolution of the true photon correlation function of the optical field and a well-defined, noiseless resonator correlation function. The effect of detector statistics is reduced to the contribution of two integral parameters—the total single-pulse charge and the jitter of single-pulse centers. Good performance of this technique is demonstrated at high photon rates and resolutions, where the well-known photon-counting or single-quantum methods are ineffective. The novel technique offers linear recording of photocount time series without dead-time effects. The temporal resolution is defined by the sampling step of the analog/digital converter. The retrieval error does not exceed 1 to 3% at count rates higher than 1 GHz and single-pulse durations larger than the resolution cell. This technique can be effectively applied in photon correlation measurements of high dynamic optical fields.

Optical Engineering•Jun 1, 1997•3 citations

Measuring the dynamics of second-order photon correlation functions inside a pulse with picosecond time resolution

Marc Aßmann, Franziska Veit, Jean-Sebastian Tempel +5 more

We present a detailed discussion of a recently demonstrated experimental technique capable of measuring the correlation function of a pulsed light source with picosecond time resolution. The measurement involves a streak camera in single photon counting mode, which is modified such that a signal at a fixed repetition rate, and well defined energy, can be monitored after each pulsed laser excitation. The technique provides further insight into the quantum optical properties of pulsed light emission from semiconductor nanostructures, and the dynamics inside a pulse, on the sub-nanosecond time scale.

Optics Express•Sep 8, 2010•46 citations

Fast Sampling of Atomic Velocities by Incoherent Light Stimulated Photon Echoes

M. Defour, J. Keller, J.-L. Le Gouët

It has been recently pointed out that incoherent light can be used to generate coherent optical transients and that there are decided advantages in using such broad-band non-laser source to achieve very high time resolution {1,2}. When a light pulse and its time-delayed replica interact with a sample to produce the non-linear optical response, the ultimate time resolution should identify with the correlation time τC of the light field rather than with the pulse duration τL. The situation where τC ≪ τL is easily obtained with broad-band incoherent light sources. Time resolution in the femtosecond range is then attainable using nanosecond light pulses. This has been recently demonstrated through the observation of the relaxation of photon echoes in Nd3+-doped silicate glass {1,2}. In these cases, attention is focused on the measurement of fast homogeneous decay rates and the inhomogeneous broadening ΩD is assumed to be much larger than the spectral width of the excitation light.

International Conference on Ultrafast Phenomena•Jan 1, 1986•0 citations

Coherence time measurements using a single detector with variable time resolution

Marc Aßmann, M. Bayer

We present a simple technique for measuring coherence times for stationary light fields using a single detector with tunable time resolution. By measuring the equal-time second-order correlation function at varying instrument response functions it is possible to determine the coherence time and also the shape of the temporal decay without the need to record time-resolved data. The technique is demonstrated for pseudothermal light. Possible applications for dynamic light scattering and photon statistics measurements are discussed.

Optics Letters•Jul 4, 2012•6 citations
A multipoint correlation technique is described for the measurement of the fluorescence decay from a sample excited with modulated light, where the modulation and the response can be arbitrarily complex. In the case of weak fluorescence, individual photons are resolved which are so correlated. The apparatus has a high dynamic range at extremely low photon densities, or very high photon rates, only limited by the single pulse resolution time of fast photomultipliers and counters.
We describe a method to probe the spectral fluctuations of a transition over broad ranges of frequencies and timescales with the high spectral resolution of Fourier spectroscopy, and a temporal resolution as high as the excited state lifetime, even in the limit of very low photocounting rates. The method derives from a simple relation between the fluorescence spectral dynamics of a single radi-ating dipole and its fluorescence intensity correlations at the outputs of a continuously scanning Michelson interferometer. These findings define an approach to investigate the fast fluorescence spectral dynamics of single molecules and other faint light sources beyond the time-resolution capabilities of standard spectroscopy experiments.
A technique is described for performing nanosecond time-resolved spectroscopy for situations of extremely low emission rates. The system utilizes a N(2) laser pumped tunable dye laser and single photon time correlation techniques. It is applicable where there is need for nanosecond time resolution on emission which is either long-lived or has extremely low quantum efficiency and especially where monochromatic excitation is required. The technique is applied to the relaxation between a pair of excited states of Tb(3+):Y(OH):(3), where 5-nsec temporal resolution with 2- cm(-1) spectral resolution is easily obtained.
A novel technique for photon correlation measurements, based on the excitation of a resonant system by photon-detector single pulses, analog/digital sampling, and deconvolution, has been developed and analyzed experimentally and by computer simulations. The measured correlation function is expressed by a convolution of the true photon correlation function of the optical field and a well-defined, noiseless resonator correlation function. The effect of detector statistics is reduced to the contribution of two integral parameters—the total single-pulse charge and the jitter of single-pulse centers. Good performance of this technique is demonstrated at high photon rates and resolutions, where the well-known photon-counting or single-quantum methods are ineffective. The novel technique offers linear recording of photocount time series without dead-time effects. The temporal resolution is defined by the sampling step of the analog/digital converter. The retrieval error does not exceed 1 to 3% at count rates higher than 1 GHz and single-pulse durations larger than the resolution cell. This technique can be effectively applied in photon correlation measurements of high dynamic optical fields.
We present a detailed discussion of a recently demonstrated experimental technique capable of measuring the correlation function of a pulsed light source with picosecond time resolution. The measurement involves a streak camera in single photon counting mode, which is modified such that a signal at a fixed repetition rate, and well defined energy, can be monitored after each pulsed laser excitation. The technique provides further insight into the quantum optical properties of pulsed light emission from semiconductor nanostructures, and the dynamics inside a pulse, on the sub-nanosecond time scale.
It has been recently pointed out that incoherent light can be used to generate coherent optical transients and that there are decided advantages in using such broad-band non-laser source to achieve very high time resolution {1,2}. When a light pulse and its time-delayed replica interact with a sample to produce the non-linear optical response, the ultimate time resolution should identify with the correlation time τC of the light field rather than with the pulse duration τL. The situation where τC ≪ τL is easily obtained with broad-band incoherent light sources. Time resolution in the femtosecond range is then attainable using nanosecond light pulses. This has been recently demonstrated through the observation of the relaxation of photon echoes in Nd3+-doped silicate glass {1,2}. In these cases, attention is focused on the measurement of fast homogeneous decay rates and the inhomogeneous broadening ΩD is assumed to be much larger than the spectral width of the excitation light.
We present a simple technique for measuring coherence times for stationary light fields using a single detector with tunable time resolution. By measuring the equal-time second-order correlation function at varying instrument response functions it is possible to determine the coherence time and also the shape of the temporal decay without the need to record time-resolved data. The technique is demonstrated for pseudothermal light. Possible applications for dynamic light scattering and photon statistics measurements are discussed.