PicoHarp 330
Precise and Versatile Time Tagging & TCSPC Unit
Quantity
Key Highlights
Exceptional timing precision
Flexible trigger options
Upgradable channel configuration
High throughput via USB
Smart on-board event filters
Description
The PicoQuant PicoHarp 330 is a precise and versatile time-tagging and time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) unit designed for high-resolution measurements of photon arrival times. It combines 1 ps time resolution, excellent timing precision, and an ultrashort dead time in a compact USB 3.0 instrument. The system can be configured with one to four independent input channels together with a common synchronization channel. Each input can be configured for either programmable edge triggering or Constant Fraction Discrimination (CFD), providing flexibility for different detector and signal conditions. When synchronization is not required, the common sync input can also be used as an additional detection channel. With a dead time of only 680 ps in edge-trigger mode, the PicoHarp 330 can detect multiple events in rapid succession. It supports sustained time-tagging rates of up to 85 million counts per second across all channels, while USB 3.0 provides the high data throughput required for continuous photon-event acquisition. The PicoHarp 330 supports TTTR operation, allowing individual photon events and their precise arrival times to be recorded for advanced post-processing. This makes it suitable for applications including fluorescence lifetime measurements, FLIM, single-molecule spectroscopy, photon correlation, quantum optics, quantum communication, and time-resolved characterization of optoelectronic devices.
Specifications
Parameter | Specification |
Product Type | Time Tagging & TCSPC Unit / Event Timer |
Interface | USB 3.0 |
Detection Channels | 1, 2, 3, or 4 |
Common Sync Channel | 1 |
Minimum Time Bin Width | 1 ps |
Timing Precision | 2 ps RMS typ.—single channel |
Timing Precision Between Channels | 3 ps RMS typ. |
Dead Time | 680 ps — Edge Trigger |
Dead Time with CFD | 4.2 ns |
Maximum Synchronization Rate | 640 MHz |
Sustained Count Rate / Channel | 80 Mcps |
Total Sustained Count Rate | 85 Mcps |
Peak Count Rate / Channel | 1.47 × 10⁹ cps |
Peak Burst Duration | Up to 1,000 events |
Maximum Histogram Bins | 65,536 via GUI / 524,288 via DLL |
Count Depth | 32-bit / 4,294,967,295 counts |
Full-Scale Time Range | 65,536 ps–549.7 ms via GUI; up to 4.398 s via DLL |
External Marker Inputs | 4 |
Input Trigger | Edge Trigger / Constant Fraction Discriminator |
Input Voltage Operating Range | −1,500 to +1,500 mV into 50 Ω |
Input Voltage Damage Level | −2,000 to +3,000 mV |
Reference Clock Input | 10 MHz, 100 MHz, or 500 MHz |
Reference Clock Output | 10 MHz standard |
Internal Clock Accuracy | ±300 ppb |
Internal Clock Stability | ±10 ppb |
Application
Time-Resolved Fluorescence & Luminescence Spectroscopy High-precision photon timing for measuring fluorescence and luminescence decay dynamics.
Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) TTTR acquisition and synchronization with scanning or imaging hardware for lifetime-resolved imaging.
Single-Molecule Spectroscopy (SMS) Detection and time-tagging of photon events for investigating fluorescence dynamics at the single-molecule level.
Time-Resolved Photoluminescence (TRPL) Measurement of emission lifetimes and excited-state dynamics in semiconductors, nanomaterials, and optoelectronic devices.
Quantum Optics Photon correlation, antibunching, coincidence measurements, and characterization of single-photon sources.
Quantum Communication Precise photon timing for experiments involving quantum communication, quantum key distribution (QKD), and related photonic quantum technologies.
Coincidence Correlation & Antibunching Multi-channel photon detection for studying temporal correlations between photon events.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) High-resolution time tagging for photon arrival-time analysis in quantum communication experiments.
Linear Optical Quantum Computing Precise synchronization and photon-event timing for photonic quantum information experiments.
LIDAR / Ranging / SLR Time-of-flight measurements where precise determination of photon arrival times is required.
Optoelectronic Device Characterization Time-response measurements of photodetectors and other fast optoelectronic devices.