Linear Geiger Mode Detector Technology for Time Resolved Spectral Measurements

Lead Research Organisation: University of Leicester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

The primary objective of this project is to develop an new class of detection system for cost effective time-resolved photon counting spectral measurement, initially aimed at time-resolved Raman spectroscopy (TRRS). TRRS is an established method to remove the delayed fluorescence signal from the prompt Raman photons, particularly for organic samples where the fluorescence signal is often much larger. Though very powerful as a sample analysis technique, TRRS has had limited uptake due to cost and complexity. Currently available TRRS systems separate the Raman and fluorescence signals by using either a gated Intensified CCD, or by using fast optical gating technology. Both approaches are complex, expensive and restricted to laboratory environments. This proposal aims to produce a new, smaller, cheaper class of detection system for TRRS and other time-resolved spectral measurements by integrating a SPAD linear array developed by the University of Sheffield with the fast readout electronics developed by the University of Leicester. Instead of gating, this system will provide the necessary time differentiation of Raman and fluorescence signals by photon time stamping.

Such an instrument is expected to open up new commercial applications in to fields ranging from security applications such as identification of counterfeit materials and pharmaceutical quality control, to biological applications including protein manufacture and potentially identification of cancer markers. A cost effective time-resolved Raman instrument would be disruptive technology with beneficiaries ranging from the project partners through commercial profit and licensing, suppliers of key components including commercial detector and high rep rate lasers from UK and European companies. Potential end-user beneficiaries include drug companies and their customers, the security services and general public through improved detection of hazardous and illegal materials, and public well-being through possible advances in cancer detection.

The detector system is also potentially game-changing for a number of other commercial applications. These include: LIDAR for 3D imaging and environmental monitoring; fluorescence lifetime imaging and related technologies for biological research, drug discovery and clinical diagnostics; and trace gas analysis using cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy for pollution monitoring and medical diagnostics.

The project work is based on previous STFC-funded research into detectors and electronics at the Universities of Leicester and Sheffield and at CERN.

The Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering at the University of Sheffield has been carrying out research into SPADs for over 15 years. Recent knowledge exchange activities include IR APD linear array with LIDAR Technology, X-ray APDs with University of Leicester, photodiodes/APDs for radiation thermometry with LAND Instrument International Ltd, and IR APD with Lasertel.

Previous STFC support has funded the PI, Lapington, to develop very high time resolution pixellated microchannel plate photomultiplier systems for commercial applications in the life science arena, based on a modular, multichannel high speed electronics with picosecond event timing resolution developed in collaboration with CERN. The electronics utilise two very high speed CERN-designed ASICs developed for the LHC-ALICE experiment in a modular design allowing systems with up to 1024 channels.

The University of Leicester and commercial partner, IS-Instruments, were recently awarded a TSB-funded "Emerging Imaging Technologies" feasibility study for preliminary investigation of this new technique for TRRS. This new project will move the technology from proof of concept to a commercial prototype for TRRS which will allow IS-Instruments to commercialise a new suite of spectrometer systems capable of separating signals in time, generating the potential for cost effective, hand-held TRRS spectrometer.

Publications

10 25 50
publication icon
Lapington J (2020) Investigating microchannel plate PMTs with TOFPET2 multichannel picosecond timing electronics in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

publication icon
Leach S (2019) Operation of microchannel plate PMTs with TOFPET multichannel timing electronics in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

 
Description The aim of this research work was to combine a photon-counting SPAD detector array with very high speed timing electronics for time resoloved Raman spectroscopy. This technique is able to overcome the high levels of fluorescence light produced from organic materials, such as tissue and plastic explosives, making it suitable as a tool for medical diagnostics and homeland security. A patent on this novel technique was appiled for and issued, and a proof of concept device was demonstrated with encouraging results. The project was divided into three components: the SPAD array manufacture and test (U. Sheffield); the high speed timing electronics and system integration (U. Leicester), and the Fourier transform spectrometer and pulsed laser (IS-Instruments, industrial collaborator). The electronics and the spectrometer have been developed and tested as far as possible (reported in publications), however the SPAD array programme has been beset by technical issues which have delayed the device manufacture. this was expected to happen in mid-2020 but was delayed by the Covid-19 crisis. U. Sheffield have had success manufacturing their novel mesa-SPAD design and we have resumed discussions with the commercial partner about continuing development of a commerical time-resolved Raman system
Exploitation Route A patent on the technique has been issued and the collaboration is investigating other ways to take the design forwards, using different detection and timing techniques in the absence of the planned SPAD array. Alternative techniques being investigated are commercially sensitive are commercially sensitive and cannot be discussed in further detail.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Healthcare

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

Security and Diplomacy

 
Description The electronics and the spectrometer have been developed and tested as far as possible in the absence of the SPAD array envisaged in the original proposal as the detector solution. The multichannel timing electronics have been thoroughly tested using a variety of alternative detector systems and the performance data gained has been published. This has led to their application to a number of other products, for example a potential application fir planetary LIDAR , in collaboration with one of our commercial partners. This takeup of state-of-the-art, new technology has potential economic and societal impact via the following mechanisms: 1) Sales revenue, staff numbers and commercial reputation of our industrial partner utilising the electronics in a range of commercial products. 2) Sales revenue, staff numbers and commercial reputation of the manufacturers of the timing electronics themselves, through increased sales, and greater customer awareness and company reputation as a result of publications showing positive results. 3) Scientific return relating to the the LIDAR application to a planetary science mission. 4) Societal impact via increased public awareness and interest in science outcomes following publicised scientific returns of a planetary science mission e.g. popularity of Mars landers and other planetary exploration.
First Year Of Impact 2019
Sector Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Electronics,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology
 
Description TOFPET 
Organisation PETsys Electronics S.A.
Country Portugal 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Evaluation of a multi-channel fast timing electronics system for applications requiring time resolved photon-counting spectroscopy.
Collaborator Contribution Collaboration in development of electronics and detectors for a photon-counting SPAD array for time resolved photon-counting spectroscopy.
Impact Development of a demonstrator system for prior to commercialisation. Report into performance of a multi-channel fast timing electronics system developed by Petsys electronics - medical pet detectors, s.a.
Start Year 2016
 
Description TOFPET 
Organisation Photek Ltd.
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Evaluation of a multi-channel fast timing electronics system for applications requiring time resolved photon-counting spectroscopy.
Collaborator Contribution Collaboration in development of electronics and detectors for a photon-counting SPAD array for time resolved photon-counting spectroscopy.
Impact Development of a demonstrator system for prior to commercialisation. Report into performance of a multi-channel fast timing electronics system developed by Petsys electronics - medical pet detectors, s.a.
Start Year 2016
 
Description Time-resolved Spectroscopy 
Organisation Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)
Country Netherlands 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Expertise in design and operation of high speed photon-counting linear detector arrays and electronics for time-resolved Raman spectroscopy. Assembly, integration, verification and calibration of high speed photon-counting detector systems.
Collaborator Contribution IS-INstruments: Expertise in spectrometer design and operation, market study, product commercialization and marketing University of Sheffield: Expertise in IR and optical SPAD array design and manufacture. University College Cork: Expertise in silicon single photon avalanche detector design and manufacture University of Delft: Design and manufacture of SPAD arrays and timing electronics EPFL: Design and manufacture of SPAD arrays and timing electronics
Impact Funding achieved: InnovateUK "Emerging Imaging technologies" proof-of-concept award - £150k STFC IPS award - £450k
Start Year 2014
 
Description Time-resolved Spectroscopy 
Organisation IS Instruments
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Expertise in design and operation of high speed photon-counting linear detector arrays and electronics for time-resolved Raman spectroscopy. Assembly, integration, verification and calibration of high speed photon-counting detector systems.
Collaborator Contribution IS-INstruments: Expertise in spectrometer design and operation, market study, product commercialization and marketing University of Sheffield: Expertise in IR and optical SPAD array design and manufacture. University College Cork: Expertise in silicon single photon avalanche detector design and manufacture University of Delft: Design and manufacture of SPAD arrays and timing electronics EPFL: Design and manufacture of SPAD arrays and timing electronics
Impact Funding achieved: InnovateUK "Emerging Imaging technologies" proof-of-concept award - £150k STFC IPS award - £450k
Start Year 2014
 
Description Time-resolved Spectroscopy 
Organisation Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
Country Switzerland 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Expertise in design and operation of high speed photon-counting linear detector arrays and electronics for time-resolved Raman spectroscopy. Assembly, integration, verification and calibration of high speed photon-counting detector systems.
Collaborator Contribution IS-INstruments: Expertise in spectrometer design and operation, market study, product commercialization and marketing University of Sheffield: Expertise in IR and optical SPAD array design and manufacture. University College Cork: Expertise in silicon single photon avalanche detector design and manufacture University of Delft: Design and manufacture of SPAD arrays and timing electronics EPFL: Design and manufacture of SPAD arrays and timing electronics
Impact Funding achieved: InnovateUK "Emerging Imaging technologies" proof-of-concept award - £150k STFC IPS award - £450k
Start Year 2014
 
Description Time-resolved Spectroscopy 
Organisation University College Cork
Department School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Country Ireland 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Expertise in design and operation of high speed photon-counting linear detector arrays and electronics for time-resolved Raman spectroscopy. Assembly, integration, verification and calibration of high speed photon-counting detector systems.
Collaborator Contribution IS-INstruments: Expertise in spectrometer design and operation, market study, product commercialization and marketing University of Sheffield: Expertise in IR and optical SPAD array design and manufacture. University College Cork: Expertise in silicon single photon avalanche detector design and manufacture University of Delft: Design and manufacture of SPAD arrays and timing electronics EPFL: Design and manufacture of SPAD arrays and timing electronics
Impact Funding achieved: InnovateUK "Emerging Imaging technologies" proof-of-concept award - £150k STFC IPS award - £450k
Start Year 2014
 
Description Time-resolved Spectroscopy 
Organisation University of Sheffield
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Expertise in design and operation of high speed photon-counting linear detector arrays and electronics for time-resolved Raman spectroscopy. Assembly, integration, verification and calibration of high speed photon-counting detector systems.
Collaborator Contribution IS-INstruments: Expertise in spectrometer design and operation, market study, product commercialization and marketing University of Sheffield: Expertise in IR and optical SPAD array design and manufacture. University College Cork: Expertise in silicon single photon avalanche detector design and manufacture University of Delft: Design and manufacture of SPAD arrays and timing electronics EPFL: Design and manufacture of SPAD arrays and timing electronics
Impact Funding achieved: InnovateUK "Emerging Imaging technologies" proof-of-concept award - £150k STFC IPS award - £450k
Start Year 2014
 
Title RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY 
Description The present invention relates to Raman spectroscopy, particularly to time-resolved Raman spectroscopy. We describe a Raman spectroscopic instrument comprising a time-resolved Raman spectrometer with a static Fourier transform spectrometer and a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array detector; wherein the detector provides a response in the form of an electronic signal for every pixel, which signal comprises precise information on the arrival time of an initial photon and, after detection of an initial photon, every pixel enters a recovery period during which it is disabled from further detection. 
IP Reference WO2018015309 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2018
Licensed No
Impact A proof of concept of the technique has been demonstrated and patents applied for. Other patents applied for: European application number: 17746406.2-1020 International application number: PCT/EP2017/067901
 
Description Funding opportunities talk - Agencia Espacial Mexicana, Mexico Jul-19 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Jamie Williams presented the latest funding Anglo-Mexican funding opportunities, and engaged with local stakeholders to identify potential UoL-Mexico collaborations
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019