Hamamatsu Photonics has expanded its range of semi-conductor detectors featuring photon detection capability with the introduction of the S10362-33 series multi-pixel photon counter (MPPC).
The new device uses a Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode structure for ultra-low-level light detection, and the active area has been increased almost ten times from 1mm2 to 9mm2. The MPPC is easily connected to an external circuit for simple operation and is operated from a low voltage power supply (typically 70V).
The S10362-33 series is ideal for a variety of applications, including positron emission tomography, high-energy physics, DNA sequencing, fluorescence measurement, nuclear medicine, point of care systems, drug discovery, medical diagnostic equipment and environmental analysis.
The S10362-33 series, with its active area of 3 x 3mm, is available in three pixel counts (900, 3,600, or 14,400 pixels). Each pixel contains a quenching resistor so that simultaneous photon events can be counted separately and with a high degree of accuracy. The devices feature typical gain values from 250,000 to several million, depending on the specific pixel number. They also feature high photon detection efficiency to UV and blue light, with peak sensitivity at 400nm, making them ideal for scintillator readout.
Hamamatsu also offers a compact MPPC module, the C10507-33 series. The modules consist of an MPPC device, current-to-voltage converter circuit, high-voltage power supply circuit, high-speed comparator circuit, counter circuit, and microprocessor. The threshold level for photon detection can be adjusted on a PC, which connects to the module via USB interface.