Signal-to-noise ratio of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode single-photon counting detectors

Three-dimensional (3D) imaging under the condition of weak light and low signal-to-noise ratio is a challenging task. In this paper, a 3D imaging scheme based on time-correlated single-photon counting technology is proposed and demonstrated. The 3D imaging scheme, which is composed of a pulsed laser, a scanning mirror, single-photon detectors, and a time-correlated single-photon counting module, employs time-correlated single-photon counting technology for 3D LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). Aided by the range-gated technology, experiments show that the proposed scheme can image the object when the signal-to-noise ratio is decreased to −13 dB and improve the structural similarity index of imaging results by 10 times. Then we prove the proposed scheme can image the object in three dimensions with a lateral imaging resolution of 512 × 512 and an axial resolution of 4.2 mm in 6.7 s. At last, a high-resolution 3D reconstruction of an object is also achieved by using the photometric stereo algorithm.

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Single photon counting 3D imaging implemented under signal-to-noise ratio less than one

Eleventh International Conference on Information Optics and Photonics (CIOP 2019) ◽

10.1117/12.2549971 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Yan Kang ◽

Tongyi Zhang ◽

Lifei Li ◽

Biao Wang ◽

Wei Zhao

Keyword(s):

3D Imaging ◽

Single Photon ◽

Signal To Noise Ratio ◽

Photon Counting ◽

Signal To Noise ◽

Single Photon Counting ◽

Noise Ratio

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Single Photon Counting Discrimination Voltage Software

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.872.354 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 872 ◽

pp. 354-359

Author(s):

Long Hu Deng ◽

Wei Feng Liu ◽

Yi Jia Lu ◽

Jia Cheng

Keyword(s):

Single Photon ◽

Selection Process ◽

Signal To Noise Ratio ◽

Photon Counting ◽

High Signal ◽

Signal To Noise ◽

Single Photon Counting ◽

Counting Technique ◽

Noise Ratio ◽

Analysis System

Because the output signals of photon detectors are scattered under weak light, the single photon counting method uses pulse discrimination technique and digital counting technique to identify and count weak signals. Compared with analog recording technique, the single photon counting technique has the advantages of high signal-to-noise ratio and good anti drift performance. Discrimination voltage is an important part of single photon counting, which will greatly affect the signal to noise ratio (SNR). The selected process of discrimination voltage is very complicated, especially the number of photomultiplier tube spectral analysis system [1], discrimination voltage selection process more time-consuming. This paper presents a software for automatically searching voltage discrimination. The software can automatically measure the discrimination voltage of a plurality of photomultiplier tubes, greatly improve the efficiency and accuracy of screening voltage selection, and verify the effectiveness of the screening voltage software by calculating the signal-to-noise ratio.

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Single photon counting Geiger mode InGaAs(P)/InP avalanche photodiode arrays for 3D imaging

10.1117/12.778278 ◽

2008 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Rengarajan Sudharsanan ◽

Ping Yuan ◽

Joseph Boisvert ◽

Paul McDonald ◽

Takahiro Isshiki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

3D Imaging ◽

Single Photon ◽

Photon Counting ◽

Avalanche Photodiode ◽

Single Photon Counting ◽

Geiger Mode ◽

Photodiode Arrays

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Quantum image distillation

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.aax0307 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (10) ◽

pp. eaax0307 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Hugo Defienne ◽

Matthew Reichert ◽

Jason W. Fleischer ◽

Daniele Faccio

Keyword(s):

Single Photon ◽

Signal To Noise Ratio ◽

Photon Counting ◽

Measured Data ◽

Quantum States ◽

Signal To Noise ◽

Quantum Imaging ◽

Intensity Correlation ◽

Quantum Image ◽

Single Photon Counting

Imaging with quantum states of light promises advantages over classical approaches in terms of resolution, signal-to-noise ratio, and sensitivity. However, quantum detectors are particularly sensitive sources of classical noise that can reduce or cancel any quantum advantage in the final result. Without operating in the single-photon counting regime, we experimentally demonstrate distillation of a quantum image from measured data composed of a superposition of both quantum and classical light. We measure the image of an object formed under quantum illumination (correlated photons) that is mixed with another image produced by classical light (uncorrelated photons) with the same spectrum and polarization, and we demonstrate near-perfect separation of the two superimposed images by intensity correlation measurements. This work provides a method to mix and distinguish information carried by quantum and classical light, which may be useful for quantum imaging, communications, and security.

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Ceilometer-lidar inter-comparison: backscatter coefficient retrieval and signal-to-noise ratio determination

Atmospheric Measurement Techniques Discussions ◽

10.5194/amtd-3-3907-2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 3907-3924 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

B. Heese ◽

H. Flentje ◽

D. Althausen ◽

A. Ansmann ◽

S. Frey

Keyword(s):

Signal To Noise Ratio ◽

Photon Counting ◽

Avalanche Photodiode ◽

Backscatter Coefficient ◽

Signal To Noise ◽

Night Time ◽

Aerosol Monitoring ◽

Noise Ratio ◽

Intercomparison Study ◽

New Generation

Abstract. The potential of a new generation of ceilometer instruments for aerosol monitoring has been studied in the Ceilometer-Lidar Inter- Comparison (CLIC) study. The ceilometer is of type CHM15k from Jenoptik, Germany, which uses a solid state laser at the wavelength of 1064 nm and an avalanche photodiode for photon counting detection. The German Meteorological Service is in progress of setting up a ceilometer network for aerosol monitoring in Germany. The intercomparison study was performed to determine whether the ceilometers are capable to deliver quality assured particle backscatter coefficient profiles. For this, the derived ceilometer profiles were compared to simultaneously measured lidar profiles at the same wavelength. The lidar used for this intercomparison was IfTs multi-wavelengths Raman lidar PollyXT. During the EARLINET lidar intercomparison campaign EARLI 09 in Leipzig, Germany, a new type of the Jenoptik ceilometer, the CHM15k-X, took part. This new ceilometer has a new optical setup resulting in a complete overlap at 150 m. The derived particle backscatter profiles were compared to profiles derived from PollyXTs measurements, too. The elastic daytime particle backscatter profiles as well as the less noisy night-time Raman particle backscatter profiles compare well with the ceilometers profiles in atmospheric structures like aerosol layers or the boundary layer top height. The calibration of the ceilometer profiles by an independent measurement of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) by a sun photometer is necessary to determine the correct magnitude of the particle backscatter coefficient profiles. A comprehensive signal-to-noise ratio study was carried out to characterize the ceilometers signal performance with increasing altitude.

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