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

Applied Optics

High-performance reconfigurable coincidence counting unit based on a field programmable gate array

Byung Kwon Park, Yong‐Su Kim, Osung Kwon, Sang-Wook Han, Sung Moon

Published May 13, 2015• 30 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present a high-performance reconfigurable coincidence counting unit (CCU) using a low-end field programmable gate array (FPGA) and peripheral circuits. Because of the flexibility guaranteed by the FPGA program, we can easily change system parameters, such as internal input delays, coincidence configurations, and the coincidence time window. In spite of a low-cost implementation, the proposed CCU architecture outperforms previous ones in many aspects: it has 8 logic inputs and 4 coincidence outputs that can measure up to eight-fold coincidences. The minimum coincidence time window and the maximum input frequency are 0.47 ns and 163 MHz, respectively. The CCU will be useful in various experimental research areas, including the field of quantum optics and quantum information.

DOI
10.1364/ao.54.004727

Related papers

Design and Development of Flexible and Low-Cost Coincidence Counting Unit

Alok Kumar Gupta, R. Sankara Prasad, L. Srivani +3 more

A flexible and low-cost Coincidence Counting Unit (CCU) with customizable features that are software selectable is designed and developed for the use in various experiments of quantum information and quantum metrology. A digital logic-based implementation approach using Field Programmable Gate Array is followed with specific emphasis on reducing the time for coincidence events of photons and making it easily scalable. In this paper, an 8-channel CCU with software configurable features such as coincidence window selection (in increment of 0.54 ns) and 8-fold coincidences (up to 4 sets) at a time has been implemented.

IEEE International Conference on Electronics, Computing and Communication Technologies (CONECCT)•Mar 1, 2018•1 citation

Arbitrary Configurable 20-Channel Coincidence Counting Unit for Multi-Qubit Quantum Experiment

Byung Kwon Park, Yong‐Su Kim, Young‐Wook Cho +2 more

This paper presents a 20-channel coincidence counting unit (CCU) using a low-end field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The architecture of the CCU can be configured arbitrarily to measure from twofold to twentyfold coincidence counts thanks to a multifold controllable architecture, which can be easily manipulated by a graphical user interface (GUI) program. In addition, it provides up to 20 of each input signal count simultaneously. The experimental results show twentyfold coincidence counts with the resolution occurring in a less than 0.5 ns coincidence window. This CCU has appropriate characteristics for various quantum optics experiments using multi-photon qubits.

Electronics•Feb 28, 2021•10 citations

Multi-Channel Coincidence Counter For Coincidence Measurement

Jing Zhang

Coincidence counting is widely used in quantum optics.It could be used in measuring the pairs of polarization entangled photons and single photon interference.In quantum experiments,coincidence counting often needs more than 3 channels.In this case,it is necessary to use FPGA(Field-Programmable Gate Array) instead of discrete logic chips.FPGA also has the advantage of low cost and small size.Coincidence counter based on FPGA could support coincidence time window from 1 ns to several hundred ns.This helps to avoid noised caused by background light.This paper introduces the principle of multi-channel coincidence counter based on FPGA and gives its performance experimentally with two single photon counting modules.

Acta Sinica Quantum Optica•Jan 1, 2011•0 citations

An FPGA-based module for multiphoton coincidence counting

David A. Branning, M. Beck

We present a multi-channel coincidence-counting module for use in quantum optics experiments. The circuit takes up to four TTL pulse inputs and counts either 2-, 3-, or 4-fold coincidences, within a user-selected coincidence time window as short as 12 ns. The module can accurately count eight sets of multi-channel coincidences, for input rates of up to 84 MHz. Due to their low cost and small size, multiple modules can easily be combined to count arbitrary M-order coincidences among N inputs.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•May 1, 2012•12 citations

Self-Contained Photon Coincidence Counting with National Instruments myRIO Ecosystem

Georges Oates Larsen, Andres H. La Rosa

Digital coincidence counting units (CCU) have made experimental verification of fundamental quantum mechanical principles financially accessible to undergraduate level teaching programs. However, recent implementations of these systems are not easily ported to National Instruments (NI) FPGAs, making them unsuitable for physics departments that have heavily invested in the NI ecosystem. Therefore, there is clear need for a detailed implementation based on an NI FPGA. We present a formal description of one such implementation, based on the NI myRIO (NI's lower-cost, student-oriented offering) which achieves 6.9 ns minimum guaranteed-distinguishable delay and 32.2 MHz peak coincidence counting rate with four input channels and simultaneous monitoring of all possible coincidence types.

•Jun 16, 2021•0 citations

Implementation of a Cost-Efficient Device for Wireless Photon Coincidence Detection

E. Ipus, Carlos A. Melo-Luna, Luis A Ocampo Giraldo +2 more

State-of-the-art technology for pulse counter electronics offers an important range of commercial devices, but such systems are usually expensive due to the complex logic used for this task. The use of counting electronics in conjunction with photon counters can be used, for example, to perform experimental tests in Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Science. Here, we present the development and implementation of a low cost module for multiphoton coincidence statistics with detection windows of a few nanoseconds. The module consists of an array of logic gates, with a frequency operation of 250 MHz that corrects and amplifies the detectors signal. The device characterisation was done by means of detection of Transistor-Transistor Logic (TTL) signals retrieved from a signal generator, and implemented in an optical setup. The detected output signals (TTL pulses) were analysed and stored in a computer by means of a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Our module incorporates fundamental electronics that is currently used in the first experimental proof-of-principle tests in quantum information and molecular spectroscopy at CIBioFi.

arXiv:1706.04927•Jun 15, 2017•0 citations
We present a high-performance reconfigurable coincidence counting unit (CCU) using a low-end field programmable gate array (FPGA) and peripheral circuits. Because of the flexibility guaranteed by the FPGA program, we can easily change system parameters, such as internal input delays, coincidence configurations, and the coincidence time window. In spite of a low-cost implementation, the proposed CCU architecture outperforms previous ones in many aspects: it has 8 logic inputs and 4 coincidence outputs that can measure up to eight-fold coincidences. The minimum coincidence time window and the maximum input frequency are 0.47 ns and 163 MHz, respectively. The CCU will be useful in various experimental research areas, including the field of quantum optics and quantum information.
A flexible and low-cost Coincidence Counting Unit (CCU) with customizable features that are software selectable is designed and developed for the use in various experiments of quantum information and quantum metrology. A digital logic-based implementation approach using Field Programmable Gate Array is followed with specific emphasis on reducing the time for coincidence events of photons and making it easily scalable. In this paper, an 8-channel CCU with software configurable features such as coincidence window selection (in increment of 0.54 ns) and 8-fold coincidences (up to 4 sets) at a time has been implemented.
This paper presents a 20-channel coincidence counting unit (CCU) using a low-end field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The architecture of the CCU can be configured arbitrarily to measure from twofold to twentyfold coincidence counts thanks to a multifold controllable architecture, which can be easily manipulated by a graphical user interface (GUI) program. In addition, it provides up to 20 of each input signal count simultaneously. The experimental results show twentyfold coincidence counts with the resolution occurring in a less than 0.5 ns coincidence window. This CCU has appropriate characteristics for various quantum optics experiments using multi-photon qubits.
Coincidence counting is widely used in quantum optics.It could be used in measuring the pairs of polarization entangled photons and single photon interference.In quantum experiments,coincidence counting often needs more than 3 channels.In this case,it is necessary to use FPGA(Field-Programmable Gate Array) instead of discrete logic chips.FPGA also has the advantage of low cost and small size.Coincidence counter based on FPGA could support coincidence time window from 1 ns to several hundred ns.This helps to avoid noised caused by background light.This paper introduces the principle of multi-channel coincidence counter based on FPGA and gives its performance experimentally with two single photon counting modules.
Digital coincidence counting units (CCU) have made experimental verification of fundamental quantum mechanical principles financially accessible to undergraduate level teaching programs. However, recent implementations of these systems are not easily ported to National Instruments (NI) FPGAs, making them unsuitable for physics departments that have heavily invested in the NI ecosystem. Therefore, there is clear need for a detailed implementation based on an NI FPGA. We present a formal description of one such implementation, based on the NI myRIO (NI's lower-cost, student-oriented offering) which achieves 6.9 ns minimum guaranteed-distinguishable delay and 32.2 MHz peak coincidence counting rate with four input channels and simultaneous monitoring of all possible coincidence types.
State-of-the-art technology for pulse counter electronics offers an important range of commercial devices, but such systems are usually expensive due to the complex logic used for this task. The use of counting electronics in conjunction with photon counters can be used, for example, to perform experimental tests in Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Science. Here, we present the development and implementation of a low cost module for multiphoton coincidence statistics with detection windows of a few nanoseconds. The module consists of an array of logic gates, with a frequency operation of 250 MHz that corrects and amplifies the detectors signal. The device characterisation was done by means of detection of Transistor-Transistor Logic (TTL) signals retrieved from a signal generator, and implemented in an optical setup. The detected output signals (TTL pulses) were analysed and stored in a computer by means of a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Our module incorporates fundamental electronics that is currently used in the first experimental proof-of-principle tests in quantum information and molecular spectroscopy at CIBioFi.