Photon Timing MultiHarp 150

The MultiHarp 150 is an easy-to-use, plug-and-play multichannel event timer and Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) device. Its extremely fast signal processing leads to an excellent data throughput via USB 3.0 interface. The MultiHarp 150 is a compact, robust, and reliable device whose high quality is reflected by our unique 5-year limited warranty. A recently published paper by M. Wahl et al. (pre-print on ArXiv) showcases design features as well as benchmark and application results from spectrally resolved, high speed imaging applications.

Multiple input channels, outstanding flexibility

The MultiHarp 150 is available with either 4, 8, or 16 identical detection channels, which are synchronized but independent, and either 5 ps (P) or 80 ps (N) base resolution. Each model features also one common synchronization input. All channels including the sync input can be used as detector inputs, e.g., for coincidence correlation or coincidence counting. The MultiHarp 150 is also ideally suited for performing TCSPC with multiple detectors using forward start-stop operation. Here the common sync channel allows for synchronization with the excitation source.

Ultrashort dead time for high data throughput

The smartly designed timing electronics allows to fully exploit the count rate limits of time-correlated single photon counting, without having to compromise on the time resolution for many modern single photon detectors. The ultra short dead time of 650 ps allows detecting multiple photons per excitation cycle even at the highest repetition rates achievable by modern picosecond pulsed lasers (requires a detector from the PMA Hybrid Series).

Adjustable timing offsets for each input channel

Each input channel has internal adjustable timing offsets with ±100 ns range at 5 ps (P) or 80 ps (N) steps steps. This greatly simplifies the cabling requirements for experimental set-ups, as selecting cable lengths to compensate for signal delays is no longer needed.

Operation as time tagger

The Time-Tagged Time-Resolved (TTTR) modes supported by the MultiHarp 150 record all relevant time and channel routing information of each detected individual photon event. By storing this full data set, it becomes possible to carry out the most comprehensive and sophisticated analysis of photon dynamics after a measurement. A real time data correlator is included to monitor FCS experiments at count rates of up to 1 000 000 counts/sec. Furthermore, the MultiHarp 150 can be synchronized with other hardware such as scanners when operated in TTTR mode.

White Rabbit ready event timer

White Rabbit is a fully deterministic, Ethernet-based timing network which provides sub-nanosecond accuracy and precise synchronization of devices over large distances. Thanks to its White Rabbit interface, the MultiHarp 150 is prepared to be used in networks that are based on this emerging technology.

	MultiHarp 150 P	MultiHarp 150 N
Input channels and sync	constant level trigger on all inputs, software adjustable	constant level trigger on all inputs, software adjustable
Number of detector channels (in addition to sync)	4 (MultiHarp 150 4P), 8 (MultiHarp 150 8P), or 16 (MultiHarp 150 16P)	4 (MultiHarp 150 4N) or 8 (MultiHarp 150 8N)
Input voltage operating range (pulse peak into 50 Ohms)	-1200 mV to 1200 mV	-1200 mV to 1200 mV
Input voltage max. range (damage level)	±2500 mV	±2500 mV
Trigger edge	falling or rising edge, software adjustable	falling or rising edge, software adjustable
Trigger pulse width	> 0.4 ns	> 0.4 ns
Trigger pulse required rise/fall time	≤ 20 ns	≤ 20 ns
Time to Digital Converters
Minimum time bin width	5 ps	80 ps
Timing precision*	< 45 ps rms	< 85 ps rms
Timing precision / √2*	< 32 ps rms	< 60 ps rms
Dead time	< 650 ps (can be increased via software up to 160 ns in steps of 1 ns)	< 650 ps (can be increased via software up to 160 ns in steps of 1 ns)
Maximum sync rate (periodic pulse train)	1.2 GHz	1.2 GHz
Adjustable programmable time offset for each input channel	±100 ns, resolution 5 ps	±100 ns, resolution 80 ps
Differential non-linearity	< 10 % peak, < 1 % rms (over full measurement range)	< 10 % peak, < 1 % rms (over full measurement range)
Histogrammer
Count depth	32 bit (4 294 967 295 counts)	32 bit (4 294 967 295 counts)
Maximum number of time bins	65 536	65 536
Full scale time range	327 ns to 2.74 s (depending on chosen resolution: 5, 10, 20, …, 41 943 040 ps)	5.24 µs to 21.99 s (depending on chosen resolution: 80, 160, 320, …, 335 544 320 ps)
Acquisition time	1 ms to 100 hours	1 ms to 100 hours
Peak count rate per input channel	1.5 × 109 counts/sec for burst durations up to 1.3 µs	1.5 × 109 counts/sec for burst durations up to 1.3 µs
Total sustained count rate, sum over all input channels	166 × 106 counts/sec (4P and 8P) 332×10^6 counts/sec (16P)	180 × 106 counts/sec
TTTR Engine
T2 mode resolution	5 ps	80 ps
T3 mode resolution	5, 10, 20, …, 41 943 040 ps	80, 160, 320, …, 335 544 320 ps
FiFo buffer depth (records)	134 217 728 events	134 217 728 events
Acquisition time	1 ms to 100 hours	1 ms to 100 hours
Peak count rate per input channel	1.5 × 109 counts/sec for burst durations up to 1.3 µs	1.5 × 109 counts/sec for burst durations up to 1.3 µs
Sustained count rate per input channel**	78 × 106 counts/sec	78 × 106 counts/sec
Total sustained count rate, sum over all input channels**	80 × 106 counts/sec	80 × 106 counts/sec
Trigger Output
Period	programmable, 0.1 µs to 1678 s (0.596 Hz to 10 MHz)	programmable, 0.1 µs to 1678 s (0.596 Hz to 10 MHz)
Pulse width	10 ns typ.	10 ns typ.
Baseline level	0 V typ.	0 V typ.
Active level (pulse peak)	-0.7 V typ. (50 Ohm)	-0.7 V typ. (50 Ohm)
External Synchronization
Ref. IN	10 Mhz 200…1500mV p.p. 50 Ohm, AC Coupled	10 MHz 200 … 1500 mV p.p. 50 Ohm, AC Coupled
Ref. OUT	default: 10 Mhz White rabbit mode: 31.25 Mhz 1400 Mhz 50 Ohm, AC Coupled	default: 10 MHz White Rabbit mode: 31.25 MHz 1400 Mhz 50 Ohm, AC Coupled
PPS IN	1 s, LVTTL	1 s, LVTTL
White Rabbit interface	connector for SFP module	connector for SFP module
External Marker Inputs
Number	4	4
Input type	LVTTL, < 50 ns rise/fall time, > 50 ns at HIGH or LOW (max 5V for 1 µs)	LVTTL, < 50 ns rise/fall time, > 50 ns at HIGH or LOW (max 5V for 1 µs)
Operation
PC interface	USB 3.0	USB 3.0
PC requirements	Dual Core CPU or better, min. 2 GHz CPU clock, min. 4 GB memory	Dual Core CPU or better, min. 2 GHz CPU clock, min. 4 GB memory
Operating system	Windows 8/10	Windows 8/10
Power consumption	< 50 W	< 50 W
Dimensions
versions with 4 or 8 detector channels	incl. feet and handles 305 × 240 × 95 mm	incl. feet and handles 305 × 240 × 95 mm
versions with 16 detector channels	incl. feet and handles 305 × 350 × 95 mm	incl. feet and handles 305 × 350 × 95 mm

^* In order to determine the timing precision it is necessary to repeatedly measure a time difference and to calculate the standard deviation (rms error) of these measurements. This is done by splitting an electrical signal from a pulse generator and feeding the two signals each to a separate input channel. The differences of the measured pulse arrival times are calculated along with the corresponding standard deviation. This latter value is the rms jitter which we use to specify the timing precision. However, calculating such a time difference requires two time measurements. Therefore, following from error propagation laws, the single channel rms error is obtained by dividing the previously calculated standard deviation by √(2). We also specify this single channel rms error here for comparison with other products.

^**Sustained throughput depends on configuration and performance of host PC.

Datasheet
Technical notes

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Photon Timing MultiHarp 150

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