Optical-stack optimization for improved SPAD photon detection efficiency

Antolović, Ivan Michel; Ulku, Arin; Kizilkan, Ekin; Lindner, Scott; Zanella, Frédéric; Ferrini, R.; Schnieper, Marc; Charbon, Edoardo; Bruschini, Claudio

doi:10.1117/12.2511301

Cited by 16 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Although the detection efficiency of the SPAD camera used here is significantly lower than the CCD camera at near-infrared wavelengths, there are a few technological developments which could close this gap. For example, a microlens array can be manufactured on top of the sensor to focus light onto the pixel array [43], thus increasing the effective pixel fill-factor. Similarly, a next-generation sensor could be produced in a 3D IC technology with the SPAD array and processing electronics on separate dies [44].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multimodal imaging combining time-domain near-infrared optical tomography and continuous-wave fluorescence molecular tomography

Ren¹,

Jiang²,

Mata³

et al. 2020

Opt. Express

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Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) emerges as a powerful non-invasive imaging tool with the ability to resolve fluorescence signals from sources located deep in living tissues. Yet, the accuracy of FMT reconstruction depends on the deviation of the assumed optical properties from the actual values. In this work, we improved the accuracy of the initial optical properties required for FMT using a new-generation time-domain (TD) near-infrared optical tomography (NIROT) system, which effectively decouples scattering and absorption coefficients. We proposed a multimodal paradigm combining TD-NIROT and continuous-wave (CW) FMT. Both numerical simulation and experiments were performed on a heterogeneous phantom containing a fluorescent inclusion. The results demonstrate significant improvement in the FMT reconstruction by taking the NIROT-derived optical properties as prior information. The multimodal method is attractive for preclinical studies and tumor diagnostics since both functional and molecular information can be obtained.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multimodal imaging combining time-domain near-infrared optical tomography and continuous-wave fluorescence molecular tomography

Ren¹,

Jiang²,

Mata³

et al. 2020

Opt. Express

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“…In the FPGA, the resulting one-bit images can be further processed, e.g., accumulated into multi-bit images, before being sent to a computer/GPU for analysis and storage. The maximum frame rate is 97.7 kfps, and the native fill factor of 10.5% can be improved by 4-5 times, for collimated light, by means of a microlens array [21] (higher values are expected from simulation after optimization); the photon detection probability is 50% (25%) at 520 nm (700 nm) and 6.5 V excess bias. The device is also characterized by low noise (typically less than 100 cps average Dark Count Rate per pixel at room temperature, with a median value about 10 times lower) and advanced circuitry for nanosecond gating.…”

Section: Spad Arrays As High-resolution Time-resolved Sensorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, to get an estimate of the total time required to form a quantum plenoptic image, the data reading and transmission times must be added to the acquisition time of the employed sensor. This problem is addressed by an interdisciplinary approach, involving the development of ultrafast single-photon sensor systems, based on SPAD arrays [17][18][19][20][21][22], the optimization of circuit electronics to collect and manage the high number of frames (e.g., by GPU) [23,24], the development of dedicated algorithms (compressive sensing, machine learning, quantum tomography) to achieve the desired SNR with a minimal number of acquisitions [25][26][27][28]. Finally, the performances of QPI will be further enhanced by a novel approach to imaging based on quantum Fisher information [29,30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards Quantum 3D Imaging Devices

et al. 2021

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We review the advancement of the research toward the design and implementation of quantum plenoptic cameras, radically novel 3D imaging devices that exploit both momentum–position entanglement and photon–number correlations to provide the typical refocusing and ultra-fast, scanning-free, 3D imaging capability of plenoptic devices, along with dramatically enhanced performances, unattainable in standard plenoptic cameras: diffraction-limited resolution, large depth of focus, and ultra-low noise. To further increase the volumetric resolution beyond the Rayleigh diffraction limit, and achieve the quantum limit, we are also developing dedicated protocols based on quantum Fisher information. However, for the quantum advantages of the proposed devices to be effective and appealing to end-users, two main challenges need to be tackled. First, due to the large number of frames required for correlation measurements to provide an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio, quantum plenoptic imaging (QPI) would require, if implemented with commercially available high-resolution cameras, acquisition times ranging from tens of seconds to a few minutes. Second, the elaboration of this large amount of data, in order to retrieve 3D images or refocusing 2D images, requires high-performance and time-consuming computation. To address these challenges, we are developing high-resolution single-photon avalanche photodiode (SPAD) arrays and high-performance low-level programming of ultra-fast electronics, combined with compressive sensing and quantum tomography algorithms, with the aim to reduce both the acquisition and the elaboration time by two orders of magnitude. Routes toward exploitation of the QPI devices will also be discussed.

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“…Further surface treatments like depositing an anti-reflection coating to reduce the surface reflection or producing micro-lens arrays to focus the light onto the active area can be used to boost the light transmission. A SiPM with the micro-lens array to improve the PDE was reported in [187]. By depositing micro-lenses on the surface of the SiPM, the highest effective FF was 84% while the native FF was 28%.…”

Section: Research Challenges and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensors for Positron Emission Tomography Applications

Jiang

Chalich

Deen

2019

Sensors

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Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is an essential tool in clinical applications for the diagnosis of diseases due to its ability to acquire functional images to help differentiate between metabolic and biological activities at the molecular level. One key limiting factor in the development of efficient and accurate PET systems is the sensor technology in the PET detector. There are generally four types of sensor technologies employed: photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), avalanche photodiodes (APDs), silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), and cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detectors. PMTs were widely used for PET applications in the early days due to their excellent performance metrics of high gain, low noise, and fast timing. However, the fragility and bulkiness of the PMT glass tubes, high operating voltage, and sensitivity to magnetic fields ultimately limit this technology for future cost-effective and multi-modal systems. As a result, solid-state photodetectors like the APD, SiPM, and CZT detectors, and their applications for PET systems, have attracted lots of research interest, especially owing to the continual advancements in the semiconductor fabrication process. In this review, we study and discuss the operating principles, key performance parameters, and PET applications for each type of sensor technology with an emphasis on SiPM and CZT detectors—the two most promising types of sensors for future PET systems. We also present the sensor technologies used in commercially available state-of-the-art PET systems. Finally, the strengths and weaknesses of these four types of sensors are compared and the research challenges of SiPM and CZT detectors are discussed and summarized.

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Optical-stack optimization for improved SPAD photon detection efficiency

Cited by 16 publications

References 7 publications

Multimodal imaging combining time-domain near-infrared optical tomography and continuous-wave fluorescence molecular tomography

Multimodal imaging combining time-domain near-infrared optical tomography and continuous-wave fluorescence molecular tomography

Towards Quantum 3D Imaging Devices

Sensors for Positron Emission Tomography Applications

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