février 17, 2010
The Supercontinuum Laser as a Flexible Source for Quasi-Steady State and Time-Resolved Fluorescence Studies
Roger Fenske, Dirk U. Näther, Richard B. Dennis, S. Desmond Smith
Commercial Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometers have long suffered from the lack of a simple, compact and relatively inexpensive broad spectral band light source that can be flexibly employed for both quasi-steady state and time resolved measurements (using Time Correlated Single Photon Counting [TCSPC]). This paper reports the integration of an optically pumped photonic crystal fibre, supercontinuum source1 (Fianium model SC400PP) as a light source in Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometers (Edinburgh Instruments FLS920 and Lifespec II), with single photon counting detectors (micro-channel plate photomultiplier and a near-infrared photomultiplier) covering the UV to NIR range. An innovative method of spectral selection of the supercontinuum source involving wedge interference filters is also discussed.
Commercial Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometers have long suffered from the lack of a simple, compact and relatively inexpensive broad spectral band light source that can be flexibly employed for both quasi-steady state and time resolved measurements (using Time Correlated Single Photon Counting [TCSPC]). This paper reports the integration of an optically pumped photonic crystal fibre, supercontinuum source1 (Fianium model SC400PP) as a light source in Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometers (Edinburgh Instruments FLS920 and Lifespec II), with single photon counting detectors (micro-channel plate photomultiplier and a near-infrared photomultiplier) covering the UV to NIR range. An innovative method of spectral selection of the supercontinuum source involving wedge interference filters is also discussed.