Detector for multichannel spectroscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging on the picosecond timescale

Simultaneous acquisition of time- and space-information on the picosecond timescale became feasible by a recent advance in microchannel-plate photomultiplier-tube (MCP-PMT) technology: we present two novel MCP-PMT detectors for time- and space-correlated single photon counting (TSCSPC), featuring a space-sensitive delay-line (DL) anode and quadrant-anode (QA), respectively. The linear DL-MCP-PMT is characterised by a spatial instrument response function (IRF) of 100 mu m FWHM, resulting in 200 space channels, whereas the QA-MCP-PMT is a 2D imager with 400 X 400 pixel of 40 mu m space resolution. The detectors have a temporal IRF of 75 ps (DL) and 80 ps (QA) FWHM, sufficient for 10 ps time resolution, at a dynamic range of 10(5) of the uncooled detector. By employing a 2D multichannel analyser based on transputer technology, 100 000 cps through-put or higher is possible. In imaging mode without timing, the QA-detector can achieve 10(6) cps. A gain of 5 x 10(6) is achieved at only minus 2400 V. Applications for the novel imaging detectors will be found in microscopic structural biology, astronomy, and nuclear research.