High-accuracy calibration of photon-counting detectors

Sergey V. Polyakov; Michael Ware; Alan Migdall

doi:10.1117/12.685248

25 October 2006 High-accuracy calibration of photon-counting detectors

Sergey V. Polyakov, Michael Ware, Alan Migdall

Proceedings Volume 6372, Advanced Photon Counting Techniques; 63720J (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.685248
Event: Optics East 2006, 2006, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Abstract

We discuss a practical implementation of a photon-counting detector calibration using correlated photon pairs produced by parametric down-conversion. In this calibration scheme, the detection of a first photon triggers the measurement sequence aimed at detection of a second photon by a detector under test (DUT). We also describe measurements of radiant power with a photon-counting detector, which is important for implementation of a conventional calibration technique based on detector substitution. In the experiment, we obtain a time-delay histogram of DUT detection events consisting of a correlated signal and a background. We present a method for separating the correlated signal from the background signal that appropriately handles complex properties of typical avalanche photodiode (APD) detectors. Also discussed are measurements of relevant APD properties, including count-rate-dependent afterpulsing, delayed (by up to 10 ns) electronic detections and deadtime effects. We show that understanding of these is essential to perform an accurate calibration.

Citation Download Citation

Sergey V. Polyakov, Michael Ware, and Alan Migdall "High-accuracy calibration of photon-counting detectors", Proc. SPIE 6372, Advanced Photon Counting Techniques, 63720J (25 October 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.685248

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available