SFT1010 Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting System

CurrentHome>Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting System

SFT1010 Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting System

Overview Specifications Ordering Resources

The SFT1010, a time-correlated single-photon counting product independently developed by StarMill Optoelectronics, is a high-precision time measurement system that precisely measures the relative timing of signal events and supports a time tag mode, recording the timing information of detected signals in real time. Thanks to its powerful high-speed data storage and processing capabilities, the SFT1010 achieves a time resolution of up to 16 ps, a channel saturation count rate of up to 100×10⁶ cps, and a dead time of less than 10 ns.

It also supports a One-Start-Multi-Stop mode, enabling real-time recording of multiple events within the same synchronization signal cycle. Furthermore, to meet the diverse application needs of scientific research users, the FT1010 comes standard with four marker signal interfaces and a reference clock input/output interface.

Applications
◼ Fluorescence lifetime measurement
◼ Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS)
◼ Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)
◼ Quantum optics
◼ Time-of-flight (ToF) measurement
◼ Nuclear physics
◼ Coherent detection
◼ Fiber optic sensing

Key Features

Maximum time resolution 16 ps

Instantaneous saturation count rate 100 Mcps

Dead time less than 10 ns

Supports time-stamping mode

Powerful data processing software

USB 3.0 interface

Photon Correlation Measurement

The SFT1010(P) can be used to measure correlated photon pairs, an important tool in quantum optics research, such as quantum secure communication and single-photon generation. Pumping light through a PPLN or PPKTP crystal generates correlated photon pairs. After PBS or 50/50 BS splitting, the beam is measured by a single-photon detector. The count signal is analyzed by TCSPC to obtain correlation information.
Fluorescence Lifetime Measurement

Fluorescence lifetime is typically measured in the picosecond to microsecond range. TCSPC is the most mature and accurate method for measuring such short timescales. A synchronized signal source drives a laser, emitting light pulses that illuminate the sample cell. A photon detector (mostly a PMT) detects the fluorescence signal. Each photon count falls into a corresponding time window in the FT1010. After a certain period of statistical superposition, the fluorescence lifetime curve is generated.
TOF Applications

TOF (Time of Flight) measurement is a method of obtaining information such as relative distance or particle mass by measuring the flight time of photons (or particles). A typical application is laser ranging. This method uses a picosecond (or femtosecond) laser to generate light pulses. At the laser’s exit, a beam splitter (BS) is used to separate a portion of the signal and convert it into an electrical pulse that serves as a reference signal. The light pulse is then reflected by the object being measured. The time difference between the echo signal and the reference signal corresponds to the distance to the object being measured.

Channel Features
Counting Channels	1
Sync/Counting Channel Interface	BNC
Marker Signal Interface	LEMO
Reference Clock Input/Output Interface	SMA
Input Signal Standard	-2V to +3V, Adjustable Threshold
Trigger Mode	Rising/Falling Edge (Adjustable)
Minimum Trigger Pulse Width	0.1 ns
TDC Characteristics
Transient saturation count rate	100 Mcps
Dead time	10 ns
Synchronous signal division ratio	1/2/4/8
Maximum event transmission rate	40 million events/s
Adjustable time delay range	-1000.0 to 1000.0 ns
Pulse width measurement	Optional
GPS timestamp	Optional
Histogram
Time Resolution (ps)	16/32/64/128/256/512/1024/…/33554432
Maximum Unit Count	65535
Maximum Range	1.08 μs @ 16 ps 67.1 μs @ 1024 ps 2.19 s @ 33554432 ps
TTTR
Mode	T2/T3
T2 resolution(ps)	16
Time range	Unlimited@T2 1.09 s@T3
Others
Data interface	USB3.0
Size	300 × 235 ×115 mm^3
Power	110 ～ 230 VAC

Main Machine

Module No.	Item	Description
FT1010	Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting System	SYNC reference channel: 1; Number of counting channels: 1; Maximum time resolution: 16 ps; Instantaneous saturation count rate: 100 Mcps; Dead time: <16 ns; Supports histogram and time stamp modes; Adjustable time delay range: ±1000.0 ns; Data transmission interface: USB 3.0.