Applications

time-resolved fluorescence and luminescence spectroscopy

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM), Fluorescence Correlation
Spectroscopy (FCS), Frster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)
Single Molecule Spectroscopy (SMS)
time response characterization of optoelectronic devices
Time-of-Flight (TOF) measurements
Allround PCI-board for Time-
Correlated Single Photon Counting
TimeHarp 200
minimum time channel width <40 ps
6 measurement ranges
count rate up to 3 million counts/sec
continuous mode for unlimited
sequential curve recording
optional Time-Tagged Mode for
recording of individual events
optional real-time correlator
up to 4096 channels per range
4 channel routing capability
P Q ICO UANT
Unternehmen fr optoelektronische
Forschung und Entwicklung
G
m
b
H
http://www.picoquant.com
Easy-to-use
Software
indows
for
W
TM
PCI-board for Single Photon Counting
PicoQuant GmbH
Rudower Chaussee 29 (IGZ)
D-12489 Berlin
Germany
Phone +49-(0)30-6392-6929
Telefax +49-(0)30-6392-6561
Email info@picoquant.com
WWW http://www.picoquant.com
The TimeHarp 200 is a compact easy-to-use Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) system on a
single PCI-board.
3 10 counts/sec
as 2 10 counts/sec

6
6
It includes all components traditionally contained in bulky racks. An integrated design keeps
cost down and improves reliability. The system works in reversed start-stop mode allowing operation at the full
repetition rate of mode locked lasers. The design allows high measurement rates up to and
provides a time resolution of <40 ps. The time resolution is well matched to Photomultiplier Tube (PMT) modules
and Single Photon Avalanche Photodiodes (SPADs). Similarly, inexpensive and easy-to-use diode lasers from
PicoQuant such as the PDL 800-B can be used as an excitation source. Overall IRFs of 300 ps FWHM at
average count rates as high can be achieved with inexpensive PMTs and diode lasers. Due
to a dual memory architecture the continuous flow mode allows an unlimited sequential decay curve recording
down to 1 ms per curve, which is invaluable in Single Molecule Detection. The continuous mode can also be
synchronized with other hardware such as scanners. ATime-TaggedTime-Resolved (TTTR) mode for recording
of individual photon events with their arrival time is available, allowing the most sophisticated offline analysis of
the photon dynamics. TTTR data can be correlated in real-time for monitoring of FCS experiments. As
accessories, an external router for connection of up to four detectors as well as a Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging
Controller are available. The TimeHarp software for Windows provides functions such as the setting of
measurement parameters, display of results, loading and saving of measurement parameters and
measurement curves. Important measurement characteristics such as count rate, count maximum, position and
peak width are displayed continuously. An automatic setup function is provided to adjust the systemto an initial
optimum display range setting for the histogram. A comprehensive online help function shortens the user's
learning curve. A DLL for custom programming e.g. with LabVIEW is also available. Software upgrades for
extended functionality will be available with further product development.
Operation Modes
Integration mode, oscilloscope mode, continuous mode f(t,T) (dual memory structure), externally clocked continuous mode
(scanning, imaging), Time-Tagged Time-Resolved (TTTR) mode (listing each event pair arrival time)*
*available as an option
Specifications
Detector Channel
Sync Channel
Time to Digital Converter
Histogrammer
Operation
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Constant Fraction Discriminator
Input voltage range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 to 1500 mV
Input range with PAM 102-T preamp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -5 to -150 mV
Trigger point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . rising edge of positive going pulse
Detector pulse width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.5 to 30 ns
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Constant Level Trigger
Input voltage range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1500 to +500 mV
Trigger point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . falling edge of negative going pulse
Sync pulse width. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.5
Max. sync rate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 MHz
Minimum channel width (base resolution) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <40 ps
Full scale range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 ns to 4.5 s (dependent on base resolution)
Dead time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <350 ns
Max. conversion rate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 MHz
Differential non-linearity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Count depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 bit
Max. no. of channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4096
Channel width. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . base resolution x1, x2, x4, x8 x16 and x32
PC interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 bit/33 MHz PCI
PC requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500 MHz min. CPU clock, 512 MB memory
Operating system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Windows 2000/XP/Vista
Power consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . typ. 0.8 A at +5 V, 0.4 A at +12 V
Dimensions w/o slot bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCI slot card 185 x 115 x 25 mm
to 5 ns
<5% pp, <0.5% rms

P Q ICO UANT Gm
bH
All Information given here is reliable to our best knowledge. However, no responsibility is assumed for possible inaccuracies or ommisions. Specifications and external appearences are
subject to change without notice. Trademarks or corporate names are used for explanation and identification, to the owner's benefit and without intent to infringe.
PicoQuant GmbH, October 2010
Further available are PCModules for TCSPC(PCI-board Multi-channel scaler / Photon Counter
Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometer; Time-resolved Fluorescence Microscopes; Upgrade kit for Laser Scanning Microscopes; Picosecond / Nanosecond Pulsed,
Modulated and Fast Swichted Diode Lasers. Please call for detailed information and data sheets.
Please check our websitefor updatedinformation.
, the NanoHarp 250, and the High-end Photon Counting Module with USB2.0 Interface, the
PicoHarp 300),
To learn more about Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting please request our
Technical Note onTCSPC.