Laser Components and PicoQuant form photon-counter alliance
Olching and Berlin, Germany --Laser Components GmbH and PicoQuant GmbH have forged a strategic alliance to develop and commercialize avalanche-photodiode (APD)-based photon counters. The APDs are developed and manufactured by Laser Components DG, Inc. (Phoenix, AZ), with the electronics supplied by PicoQuant.
Two different series are being developed: Photon counters (or photon-counting modules) for non-time-resolved applications are available immediately under the trademark COUNT from Laser Components. The second series, τ-SPAD, consists of modules targeting time-resolved applications. This series is available from PicoQuant. The assembly and subsequent testing of both types of modules are performed at each company's headquarters.
Both the COUNT and τ-SPAD modules have "never-before-seen" quantum efficiency and extremely low dark-count rates, according to Laser Components.
"PicoQuant possesses great application know-how and enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide in the photon-counting market," said Patrick Paul, general manager of Laser Components GmbH. "Even though the APD technology, which is at the heart of the system, is our own, it was important for us to bring in another partner. The synergies of this alliance are promising. After the first tests, PicoQuant was convinced of the great potential our joint product exhibits as well as of the philosophy behind it. Our goal is to develop the modules further, in close cooperation with our customers, in order to open up new applications."
"We have known Laser Components for many years as a well-established manufacturer of APDs and a reliable business partner. Therefore, we were interested in the joint development of photon counters from the very beginning," said Rainer Erdmann, general manager of PicoQuant GmbH. "The new modules perfectly match current customer needs and complement our existing product portfolio very well. They will help us to better serve the different target markets and to expand them."
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John Wallace | Senior Technical Editor (1998-2022)
John Wallace was with Laser Focus World for nearly 25 years, retiring in late June 2022. He obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and physics at Rutgers University and a master's in optical engineering at the University of Rochester. Before becoming an editor, John worked as an engineer at RCA, Exxon, Eastman Kodak, and GCA Corporation.