Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) offer a fast and sensitive solution to the challenge of detecting, timing and measuring extremely weak light, even down to single photon level. The latest products from Broadcom take accuracy and efficiency to a new level.
SiPMs have the advantage over traditional photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) in a number of critical areas:
• Low and tightly controlled breakdown voltage
• Low temperature dependence of breakdown voltage
• High Gain and signal to noise ratio
• Magnetic field immunity
• MRI compatible packaging
• No damage from high light/ambient light
SiPMs are based on micro avalanche photodiodes in series with a quenching resistor, the combination being referred to as a Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD), AKA microcell. Each SiPM comprises many thousands of SPADs connected in parallel with common anode and cathode contacts.
SiPMs are both compact and as a solid-state device, inherently robust. This small size and ruggedness makes them particularly suitable for OEM and handheld use.
Applications in which SiPMs play a vital role include:
• Medical imaging (X-ray, CT, molecular imaging, etc.)
• Biomedical (DNA sequencing, flow cytometry, immunoassay analysis, etc.),
• Safety and security (radiation detection and spectroscopy)
• 3D ranging (lidar)
• High-energy physics experiments
Superlative Sensitivity
AP Technologies supplies SiPMs from Broadcom. The latest generation of SiPMs from this supplier are based on NUV-MT (Metal-filled Trench) technology from NUV through NIR wavelengths with an unparalleled 63% photon detection efficiency (PDE) at 420nm, less than half the dark count rate of the previous generation of products and excellent timing performance.
Product Range
The range of Silicon Photomultipliers AP Technologies offers comprises:
• 1mm, 3mm, 4mm NUV-MT, 6mm NUV-MT components
• SiPM arrays
For details on these products please visit the SiPM product page on the APT website or contact the company direct.
For further technical information on SiPMs, please read our Introduction to SiPM Technology with an extensive range of in-depth reference material linked to from there.
Control Interface
Broadcom SiPMs interface seamlessly with control systems such as data acquisition systems, for more on these, visit the DAQs page on the AP Technologies website.
About AP Technologies
AP Technologies are a UK distributor of optoelectronic components with many years of experience supplying an extensive range of cutting-edge technology from trusted suppliers. Our products are used in a wide range of applications in markets including industrial, scientific, military, medical and hazard and threat detection.
Our technologies include light emitting diodes, laser diodes and thermal IR emitters; silicon photodiodes, silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) and lead-salt detectors; data acquisition systems and photon counting electronics; Liquid Crystal shutters, polarisation controllers and filters; UV, visible, NIR and SWIR spectrometers and light sources; and fibre optic components and instruments.
Contact AP Technologies to discuss your light detection and SiPM requirements:
info@aptechnologies.co.uk |+44 (0)1225 780400 | www.aptechnologies.co.uk
