Description
Technology
The TPX3Cam is a fast single photon counting camera for time stamping of optical photons. It is based on a new silicon pixel sensor, which in combination with the Timepix3 ASIC and readout, and is suitable for a wide range of applications which require time-resolved imaging of electrons, ions or single photons. The TPX3Cam can be easily integrated both in table-top lab setups, and in synchrotron or free-electron-laser environments.
Benefits of TPX3Cam
- Increased light sensitivity silicon sensor
- Wave length range: 400 – 1000 nm
- Per pixel simultaneous detection of time (ToA) and intensity (ToT)
- Time resolution 1.6 ns, effective frame rate > 500 MHz
- Noise free, data driven readout up to 80 Mhits/s @10Gb/s Ether
- Flexible optical design outside of vacuum
“In TPX3Cam all individual pixels function independently and are able to time stamp incident ‘events’. This transforms the imaging sensor into an array of fast digitizers with both spatial and temporal resolutions acting in parallel so multiple ion species can be registered simultaneously allowing for coincidence and covariance analyses.”
Dr. Andrei Nomerotski, Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA
Applications
Ion and electron imaging
Applications of TPX3Cam include spatial and velocity map imaging of ions in time-of-flight mass spectroscopy; coincidence imaging of ions and electrons, and other time-resolved types of imaging spectroscopy. TPX3Cam is able to detect and timestamp ion hits with 1.6 ns timing resolution, thus making it possible to record ion momentum images for all fragment ions simultaneously and avoiding the need to gate the detector on a single fragment. This single detector design is simple, flexible, and capable of highly differential measurements.
Single photon counting camera
The intensified version of TPX3Cam can be single photon sensitive. In this configuration the camera is employed in combination with an off-the shelf image intensifier. The applications include the wide-field time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) imaging, phosphorescent lifetime imaging and any applications requiring time-resolved single photon imaging.
Specifications
| Sensor | |
| Material | silicon with enhanced light sensitivity |
| Wavelength range | 400 – 1000 nm |
| Detection limit | ~1000 photons per pixel hit |
| Optics | |
| Sensor active area | 14.1 x 14.1 mm2 |
| Type | C-mount |
| Imaging ASIC | |
| Type | Timepix3 |
| Pixel pitch | 55 um |
| # of pixels | 256 x 256 |
| # of thresholds | 1 |
| Throughput | up to 80 Mhits/s for 10 Gb/s up to 15 Mhits/s for 1 Gb/s |
| Read-out dead time | Dead time zero, within allowed throughput |
| Time resolution | 1.6 ns |
| Effective frame rate | > 500 MHz |
| Pixel hit dead time | ~ 1 us |
| Read-out mode | Data driven, simultaneous time and intensity by per pixel ToA and ToT detection |
| Other | |
| Computer interface | 1 Gb/10 Gb ethernet |
| External shutter control | Yes |
| External signal time stamping | 260 ps |
| Weight | 2.2 kg |
| Dimensions (l x w x h) | 28.5 x 8 x 9 cm |
| Cooling | Air |
| Acquisition software | GUI for windows/Linux/Mac |
