Photek- Ultrafast affordable timing for Life Science applications

Life scientists that base their research on fluorescence detection methods, such as
Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) or Förster Resonance Energy Transfer
(FRET) require high spatial and temporal resolution. However, current technology only
allows for one or the other. One currently available option is to use an EMCCD camera that
has good spatial resolution with light detection capabilities from 2 or 3 photons but the
temporal resolution is 3 to 6 orders of magnitude less than required. Another option is to use a
gated intensifier which has good spatial resolution and light detection capabilities down to
single photons but with temporal resolution about 2 to 3 orders of magnitude less than desired.
The final option is to uses a photomultiplier tube which has the required temporal resolution
but it has no spatial resolution capabilities. We are proposing a new microscopy camera able
to detect light as low as 2 photons with a temporal resolution of 100 ps. The microscopy
camera will be based on a Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) 8x8 array coupled with timing
electronics developed in house. The prototype will be scalable so the number of available
pixels could be increased without compromising the temporal resolution of the camera.