MultiHarp 150
Multichannel Time Tagging & TCSPC Unit
Quantity
Key Highlights
- Various channel configurations
- “P” and “N” models for differing performance requirements
- High throughput via USB & external FPGA interface
- Remote synchronization via White Rabbit
- Smart on-board event filters
Description
The PicoQuant MultiHarp 150 is a high-throughput multichannel time-tagging and Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) unit designed for experiments that require precise timing and simultaneous acquisition from multiple photon detectors.
The system is available with 4, 8, or 16 independent detection channels, together with a common synchronization input. The channels are synchronized but operate independently, making the MultiHarp 150 suitable for multi-detector experiments such as photon coincidence and correlation measurements. The common synchronization input can also be used to synchronize measurements with an excitation source for TCSPC applications.
The MultiHarp 150 is available in two performance versions. The P model provides a minimum time bin width of 5 ps, while the N model provides 80 ps resolution. Both versions feature an ultrashort dead time of less than 650 ps, allowing the system to process photon events at high count rates.
For high-throughput data acquisition, the MultiHarp 150 uses a USB 3.0 interface and can achieve up to 85 Mcps sustained data throughput in time-tagging mode and up to 180 Mcps in histogramming mode. The system also supports TTTR operation, where individual photon events are recorded together with their arrival times, enabling detailed offline analysis of photon dynamics.
The P versions provide additional capabilities including multifunctional on-board event filtering and hardware access to the data stream through an external FPGA interface. The instrument also supports Ref In, Ref Out, PPS In, and White Rabbit synchronization, making it suitable for experiments involving multiple synchronized measurement devices.
Specifications
| Parameter | MultiHarp 150 P | MultiHarp 150 N |
|---|---|---|
| Product Type | Multichannel Event Timer & TCSPC Unit | Multichannel Event Timer & TCSPC Unit |
| Detector Channels | 4, 8, or 16 | 4 or 8 |
| Common Sync Channel | Yes. | Yes. |
| Minimum Time Bin Width | 5 ps | 80 ps |
| Timing Precision | <28 ps RMS | <85 ps RMS |
| Timing Precision / √2 | <20 ps RMS | <60 ps RMS |
| Dead Time | <650 ps | <650 ps |
| Maximum Programmable Dead Time | 160 ns | 160 ns |
| Maximum Sync Rate | 1.2 GHz | 1.2 GHz |
| Programmable Time Offset / Channel | ±100 ns | ±100 ns |
| Time Offset Resolution | 5 ps | 80 ps |
| Peak Count Rate / Channel | 1.5 × 10⁹ counts/s | 1.5 × 10⁹ counts/s |
| Sustained Throughput – TTTR | 85 Mcps | 85 Mcps |
| Sustained Throughput – Histogramming | Up to 180 Mcps | Up to 180 Mcps |
| Maximum Histogram Bins | 65,536 | 65,536 |
| Count Depth | 32-bit | 32-bit |
| Full-Scale Time Range | 327 ns–2.74 s | 5.24 µs–21.99 s |
| External Marker Inputs | 4 | 4 |
| PC Interface | USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 |
| Reference Clock Input | 10 MHz | 10 MHz |
| Reference Clock Output | 10 MHz / 31.25 MHz in White Rabbit mode | 10 MHz / 31.25 MHz in White Rabbit mode |
| PPS Input | 1 s, LVTTL | 1 s, LVTTL |
| White Rabbit Interface | Supported | Supported |
| External FPGA Interface | Available | — |
| On-board Event Filters | Available | — |
| Operating System | Windows 10/11 | Windows 10/11 |
| Power Consumption | <50 W | <50 W |
Application
Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC)
Multi-detector TCSPC measurements for fluorescence lifetime and other time-resolved experiments.
Photon Correlation & Coincidence Measurements
Simultaneous acquisition from multiple detectors for coincidence counting, cross-correlation, photon statistics, and temporal correlation measurements. The independent synchronized channels make the system particularly suitable for multi-detector experiments.
Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM)
Time-tagged photon acquisition synchronized with imaging scanners and external hardware for lifetime-resolved imaging.
Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)
High-speed photon counting and time-tagging for analyzing fluorescence fluctuations and molecular dynamics. The MultiHarp 150 also supports an online real-time correlator for FCS.
Single-Molecule Spectroscopy
Recording individual photon arrival events with precise timing for single-molecule fluorescence and photon-burst analysis.
Quantum Optics
Photon coincidence, correlation, antibunching, and photon-statistics measurements using multiple single-photon detectors.
Quantum Communication
Precise time tagging and synchronization of photon detection events for quantum communication and related photonic experiments.
Time-Resolved Photoluminescence (TRPL)
Measurement of emission decay and excited-state dynamics in semiconductors, nanomaterials, quantum emitters, and optoelectronic materials.
LiDAR & Time-of-Flight Measurements
High-speed photon time-of-arrival measurements for ranging and time-of-flight applications.
Multichannel Detector Characterization
Synchronized acquisition from multiple detectors for evaluating detector timing, count rates, correlations, and system response.
Distributed & Multi-Device Experiments
Reference clock, PPS, and White Rabbit interfaces allow precise synchronization between multiple instruments and distributed measurement systems.