MultiHarp 160
High-Throughput Multichannel Time Tagging & TCSPC Unit
Quantity
Key Highlights
Largest channel scalability
High throughput via USB & external FPGA interface
Remote synchronization via White Rabbit
Smart on-board event filters
Description
The PicoQuant MultiHarp 160 is a scalable multichannel event timer and Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) unit designed for experiments requiring a large number of synchronized, high-speed timing channels. The system provides 16 input channels in its main MultiHarp 160 M unit and can be expanded using up to three MultiHarp 160 X extension units. Each extension adds 16 channels, allowing the system to be configured with 16, 32, 48, or 64 synchronized input channels. A common synchronization input provides a timing reference for all channels and supports periodic synchronization rates of up to 1.2 GHz. With a 5 ps base resolution and an ultrashort <650 ps dead time, the MultiHarp 160 is optimized for precise timing of fast photon events. Importantly, there is no dead time between different input channels, making the system particularly suitable for coincidence, correlation, and multi-detector measurements. The MultiHarp 160 supports both histogramming and TTTR operation. In TTTR mode, individual photon events are recorded with their channel information and precise arrival times, providing full timing information for advanced offline analysis. This enables applications such as photon correlation, single-molecule detection, fluorescence lifetime measurements, and quantum optics. For high-throughput applications, the time-tagging data stream can be accessed directly through dedicated external FPGA interfaces. This allows users to perform customized data preprocessing outside the instrument and helps overcome limitations associated with computer-based data transfer and processing. The MultiHarp 160 also supports advanced synchronization using 10 MHz reference clocks, PPS, and White Rabbit, making it suitable for distributed experiments involving multiple synchronized measurement devices.
Specifications
Parameter | Specification |
Product Type | Scalable Multichannel Event Timer & TCSPC Unit |
Detection Channels | 16 / 32 / 48 / 64 |
Channel Expansion | 16 channels per extension unit |
Common Sync Channel | Yes |
Minimum Time Bin Width | 5 ps |
Timing Precision | <28 ps RMS |
Timing Precision / √2 | <20 ps RMS |
Dead Time | <650 ps |
Maximum Programmable Dead Time | Up to 160 ns |
Adjustable Time Offset / Channel | ±100 ns |
Time Offset Resolution | 5 ps |
Maximum Sync Rate | 1.2 GHz |
Peak Count Rate / Input Channel | 1.5 × 10⁹ counts/s |
Total Sustained Count Rate – Histogramming | 332 Mcps |
Total Sustained Count Rate – TTTR / USB 3.0 | 85 Mcps |
Maximum Histogram Bins | 65,536 |
Histogram Count Depth | 32 bit |
Full-Scale Time Range | 328 ns – 2.74 s |
T2 Mode Resolution | 5 ps |
T3 Mode Resolution | 5–41,943,040 ps |
TTTR FIFO Buffer | 268,435,456 events |
External Marker Inputs | 4 |
PC Interface | USB 3.0 |
FPGA Data Interface | EFI REAR / EFI SFP |
FPGA Throughput – T2/T3 | Up to 200 Mevents/s (EFI REAR) |
FPGA Throughput – T2/T3 | Up to 156 Mevents/s (EFI SFP) |
Reference Clock Input | 10 MHz |
Reference Clock Output | 10 MHz / 31.25 MHz in White Rabbit mode |
PPS Input | 1 s, LVTTL |
White Rabbit | Supported |
Operating System | Windows 10/11 |
Power Consumption | Max. 150 W |
Main Unit Dimensions | 285 × 425 × 100 mm |
Extension Unit Dimensions | 285 × 425 × 62 mm |
Application
Quantum Optics & Quantum Communication Multichannel photon timing, coincidence measurements, photon correlation, quantum entanglement experiments, and quantum communication systems. The large number of synchronized channels is particularly useful for complex multi-detector setups.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Precise time tagging of photon detection events for quantum communication and QKD experiments.
Linear Optical Quantum Computing Multichannel synchronization and photon-event detection for photonic quantum information experiments.
Coincidence & Photon Correlation Simultaneous acquisition from multiple photon detectors for coincidence counting, cross-correlation, antibunching, and other photon-statistics measurements. Because there is no dead time across channels, cross-correlations can be calculated down to zero lag time.
Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) High-throughput time-tagging and synchronization with scanners and imaging systems. External marker inputs can be used to synchronize data acquisition with external hardware.
Time-Resolved Fluorescence Measurement of fluorescence decay dynamics using TCSPC and TTTR techniques.
Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) High-speed photon time tagging for studying molecular dynamics and fluorescence fluctuations over a wide range of correlation times.
Single-Molecule Spectroscopy & Detection Recording individual photon events with complete timing information for single-molecule and burst analysis.
Time-Resolved Photoluminescence (TRPL) Characterization of emission dynamics and excited-state processes in semiconductors, nanomaterials, quantum emitters, and optoelectronic materials.
Diffuse Optical Tomography & TD-fNIRS Multichannel photon timing for biomedical optical measurements and time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy.
LiDAR / Ranging / SLR High-speed time-of-arrival measurements for ranging and laser-based distance measurement applications.
Time Response Characterization of Optoelectronic Devices Measurement of fast detector and optoelectronic device responses with precise temporal resolution.