Time Resolved Single Photon Imaging Device with Single Photon Avalanche Diode

We have studied a new optical sensor characterized by performances that will extend the capabilities of several new physical investigation techniques. Our imaging device is based on a two-dimensional array of Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD), sensitive to the single photon with a subnanosecond timing precision. It is able to perform a continuous photon acquisition without the necessity to break to perform the readout process. Moreover it is not damageable by intense light sources. The proposed solution constitutes a step forward for all Time Correlated Single Photon Counting analysis, as Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering, 3D Camera, Particle Imaging Velocimetry and Adaptive Optics. An electric characterization of the single SPAD has been carried out to perform multiple readout strategies, and an electric model has been used to perform the simulation of different two-dimensional electric array configurations. We have also deeply studied the source of the counting distortion of the single passive quenched SPAD and have been able to extend the dynamic range of four order of magnitude and to use the dead time saturation as a compression feature for data produced by our imaging sensor. The dead time compensation laws established in Literature have been extended over the steady state analysis to include the time dependent source and any type of dead time. The acquisition electronics, the sensor calibration and the imaging reconstruction algorithm have been performed on a working prototype. The device has been tested with many experimental setups, developed to evaluate the features and the limits of our technological solutions.