Excellence and unmatched variety in photon-counting
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| Let us help you select the best photon-counting device for your application |
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| At Hamamatsu, you will find an unmatched variety of products for photon counting—from detectors to modules to cameras. Our products are suitable for many different techniques and applications, such as those listed below. Some general recommendations are given here. |
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Time-correlated photon counting (TCPC) |
| High speed and good timing resolution (low transit time spread or jitter) are essential in a detector for time-correlated photon counting. We recommend microchannel plate-photomultiplier tubes (MCP-PMT) and hybrid photodetectors (HPD) to get the speed and timing resolution you need. |
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Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) |
| A detector used for FCS needs to have a low afterpulse because afterpulses distort the correlation spectra. We recommend using hybrid photodetectors (HPD) and photomultiplier tubes (PMT). Also available from Hamamatsu is an FCS package comprised of a digital correlator PC board and an FCS main unit which has a sample holder, confocal optics, a laser, and a highly sensitive detector. |
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Single molecule detection |
| Many techniques are used to detect single molecules in biology or medicine, including fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), fluorescence lifetime, and total internal reflectance fluorescence (TIRF). The technique dictates the appropriate detector. However, detecting a single molecule generally requires a high signal-to-noise ratio. Detectors that achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio include photomultiplier tubes (PMT), hybrid photodetectors (HPD), the Multi-Pixel Photon Counter (MPPC), and electron multiplier (EM) CCD cameras. |
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Fluorescence (or Forster) resonance energy transfer (FRET) |
| For single-molecule FRET where a high signal-to-noise ratio is required, electron multiplier (EM) CCD cameras are ideal. For conventional FRET where fluorescence is detected from multitudes of molecules, a conventional CCD camera can be used if the required frame rate is 20 frames per second or less. If a higher frame rate (up to 100 frames per second) is required, then EMCCD cameras are a better choice. |
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Immuno-assay |
| The concentrations of tumor markers, serum proteins, hormones, and other indicators in an immuno-assay sample are exceedingly low. Detecting them requires extremely high sensitivity—a level of sensitivity that photomultiplier tubes (PMT) deliver. Using the PMT in photon counting mode increases the sensitivity of the PMT, allowing it to detect even lower concentrations in smaller volumes of samples. |
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Genetic diagnosis or nucleic acid testing |
| Genetic diagnosis for genetic disorders and nucleic acid testing for viral and bacterial diseases benefit from using a photomultiplier tube (PMT) in photon counting mode as a detector. The benefits include increased sensitivity, lower costs due to smaller sample volumes and less reagents used, and higher throughput. For imaging, we recommend an electron multiplier (EM) CCD camera. |
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Point-of-care systems |
| For portable point-of-care instruments, the ideal detector is high in sensitivity but low in cost and small in size. We recommend the Multi-Pixel Photon Counter (MPPC), a small solid-state detector that is sensitive to single photons, and compact photomultiplier tube (PMT) modules which contain a metal package PMT and high-voltage power supply. |
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Hygiene monitor or ATP analyzer |
| A compact and sensitive detector is required for a portable hygiene monitor, such as one used to inspect the cleanliness of a food preparation area in restaurants and food manufacturing facilities. The emitted luminescence is weak, but it is easily detected by a photomultiplier tube (PMT). We recommend using PMT modules that are compact and have higher resistance to vibration and shock, making them suitable for portable or mobile measurement equipment. |
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Other |
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We’ll be happy to help you select the right detector, if you have additional questions or do not see your application listed above, please contact us or visit our main web site |
