THORLABS SPCM A Series Operation Manual
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THORLABS SPCM A Series Operation Manual

THORLABS SPCM A Series Operation Manual

Single photon counting module
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Single Photon Counting Module
SPCMxxA
Operation Manual
2019

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Summary of Contents for THORLABS SPCM A Series

  • Page 1 Single Photon Counting Module SPCMxxA Operation Manual 2019...
  • Page 2 Version: Date: 27-May-2019...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Contents Foreword 1 General Information 1.1 Safety 1.2 Ordering Codes and Accessories 1.3 Requirements 1.3.1 Hardware Requirements 1.3.2 Software Requirements 1.3.3 Interface Requirements 2 Installation 2.1 Parts List 2.2 Getting Started 2.3 Installing Software 3 Operating Instructions 3.1 Operating Principle 3.2 Functional Block Diagram 3.3 Connecting the SPCM 3.4 Graphic User Interface (GUI)
  • Page 4 6.1 Typical Spectral Responsivity 6.2 Definitions 6.3 Pulse Out 6.4 Technical Data 6.5 Dimensions 6.6 Certifications and Compliances 6.7 Warranty 6.8 Exclusion of Reliability and Copyright 6.9 Thorlabs 'End of Life' Policy (WEEE) 6.10 List of Acronyms 6.11 Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts...

  • Page 5: Foreword

    Paragraphs preceded by this symbol explain hazards that could damage the instrument and the connected equipment or may cause loss of data. NOTE This manual also contains "NOTES" and "HINTS" written in this form. Please read this advice carefully! © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 6: General Information

    If necessary, ask for replacement pack- aging. Refer servicing to qualified personnel! Only with written consent from Thorlabs may changes to single components be made or components not supplied by Thorlabs be used. All modules must only be operated with proper shielded connection cables.

  • Page 7: Requirements

    Vista x64 Edition (64-bit version) ® - Windows 7 (32-bit version) ® - Windows 7 x64 Edition (64-bit version) ® - Windows 10 (32-bit, 64-bit) 1.3.3 Interface Requirements For full functionality it is recommended to use USB 2.0 High Speed interface. © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 8: Installation

    [CD Drive]:\Autorun\autorun.exe NOTE ® A NI-VISA Runtime Engine is required to operate the Single Photon Counter. If NI-VISA is not installed yet, the installation package will install version 5.0.3 automatically. Start installation by clicking "Single Photon Counter Software" © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 9 2 Installation Click "Next" to continue In the next two screens, click "I accept..." if you do so, then "Next" © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 10 SPCMxxA Click "Next" to continue. After finishing the installation, the installation summary will be displayed. Click "Finish" to con- tinue. © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 11 2 Installation After completing the installation you might be prompted to restart your PC. © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 12: Operating Instructions

    SPCMxxA Operating Instructions Operating Principle The Thorlabs SPCMxxA uses a silicon avalanche photo diode (Si APD), operated in reverse di- rection and biased slightly beyond the breakdown threshold voltage V (see diagram below, point A), also known as avalanche voltage.

  • Page 13: Functional Block Diagram

    50 W load and that the device connected to "Pulse Out" oper- ates at a 50 W input impedance. The SCPMxxA comes with factory default setting to External Gating Mode © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 14: Connecting The Spcm

    Start the software by clicking the appropriate icon on the desktop; alternatively it can be started from Windows button - Programs - Thorlabs - SPCM Series Software - “SPCM”. As a next step, the Single Photon Counter Module needs to be connected to software. There-...

  • Page 15: Graphic User Interface (Gui)

    Measurement results can be loaded with no SPCM connected, this way reproducing measure- ment results with the settings at which these measurements were made. Import / Export Settings handles only settings, no measurement results. This is a useful feature to easily reproduce older measurement conditions, e.g. for comparison. © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 16 SPCMxxA Example of saved data: Thorlabs Single Photon Counter Data Export Date (YYYY-MM-DD): 2011-07-11 Time (HH:MM:SS): 15:58:52 Device Name: SPCM50A Serial Number: M00260815 GUI Revision: 0.9 Build 117 Driver Revision: 0.8.8 Firmware Revision: 0.10.0 Application settings: Operating Mode: Free Running Timed Counter Bin Length [ms]: 0.019...

  • Page 17: Menu "Device

    3 Operating Instructions Example of exported settings: Thorlabs Single Photon Counter Data Export Date (YYYY-MM-DD): 2011-07-11 Time (HH:MM:SS): 15:58:52 Device Name: SPCM50A Serial Number: M00260815 GUI Revision: 0.9 Build 117 Driver Revision: 0.8.8 Firmware Revision: 0.10.0 Application settings: Operating Mode: Free Running Timed Counter Bin Length [ms]: 0.019...

  • Page 18: Menu "Option

    Settings brings up a dialog to switch off the fan of the SPCM and to return the GUI setting to default settings. Note Default settings of SPCM GUI are described in section Graphic User Interface 3.4.4 Menu "Help" Content opens the online help. About retrieves the current software version. © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 19: Menu Icons

    Export Measurement Settings to file Opens dialog "Zoom Panel" Zoom Home Toggle "hide / show grid" Clear Measurement data in all tabs Opens "Settings" dialog Identifies connected SPCM (blinking status LED) Connect Device Disconnect Device Exit GUI Help environment © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 20: Functional Area

    - value = -3: Read error during loading data from a file Finally, the current USB transfer rate is displayed. · Occurred errors during recent measurement: Displays the history of occurred during measurement error, which may lead to incorrect photon count. In contrast to the display of © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 21: Alignment Display

    "over temperature": temperature exceeds set point for > 0.5 K (see Technical Data Saturation of APD (see Definitions Counter overflow "overflow" indicates that more than 2 -1 = 2,147,483,647 photons were counted USB Overload "overload" indicates that measurement speed exceeds the USB transfer rate. © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 22: Graph Display

    In this tab, the recent photon counts are displayed graphically. Areas of interest can be zoomed, using the cursor by click and drag to the desired region. Alternatively, the zoom area can be selected numerically from the Zoom Dialog (click to the icon): © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 23: Bar Display

    3 Operating Instructions 3.4.6.4 Bar Display This display is similar to the Graph display , with the difference that each bin is displayed as a bar. © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 24: Operating Modes

    "Pulse Out" delivers a continuous pulse stream according to the incident photons, independent of the counter state. This mode is efficient for testing and alignment of the optical setup in order to optimize the photon collecting process. © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 25: Free Running Timed Counter

    (Single Array) or restarted (Continuously) by the GUI. The max. ar- ray size depends on the measurement speed, see section Definitions . The time diagram be- low illustrates the free running timed counter mode for a repeated array count of 5 bins each: © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 26 The bin #2 contains 43 photons. During the array count, the results and the progress of the ar- ray measurement are being displayed. After finishing the array of 5 bins, the display is reset, and the array counting cycle restarts. The Stop button terminates photon counting. © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 27: Externally Triggered Timed Counter

    (Single Array) or restarted (Continuously) by the GUI. The max. array size depends on the measurement speed, see section Definitions . The time diagram below illustrates the extern- ally triggered timed counter mode for a repeated array count of 5 bins each: © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 28 The bin #2 contains 43 photons. During the array count, the res- ults and the progress of the array measurement are being displayed. After finishing the array of 5 bins, the display is reset, and the array counting cycle restarts. The Stop button terminates photon counting. © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 29: Externally Triggered Counter

    (Single Array) or restarted (Continuously) by the GUI. The max. array size depends on the measurement speed, see section Definitions . The time diagram below illustrates the extern- ally triggered timed counter mode for a repeated array count of 3 bins each: © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 30 The bin #2 contains 43 photons. During the array count, the results and the progress of the array measurement are being displayed. After finishing the array of 3 bins, the display is reset, and the array counting cycle restarts. The Stop button terminates photon counting. © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 31: External Gating

    (Single Array) or restarted (Continuously) by the GUI. The max. array size depends on the measurement speed, see section Definitions . The time diagram below illustrates the external gating mode: © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 32 ) - in this mo- ment, the counter stops and the APD gating is switched off. During an array count, the results and the progress of the array measurement are being displayed. The Stop button terminates photon counting. © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 33: Scpi Commands

    This mode is not accessible via the GUI. See also ternal Gating Mode section. 4. Get Gating Mode [SENS:][COUN:]APD:GATE? Returns the actual gating mode 0 - counter gating only (APD always active) 1 - active APD and counter gating © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 34 9. Set Trigger Edge Sets actual trigger edge [SENS:][COUN:]GATE:EXTernal:SLOPe <value> with values 0 - falling edge 1 - rising edge 10. Get Trigger Edge Returns actual trigger edge [SENS:][COUN:]GATE:EXTernal:SLOPe? 0 - falling edge 1 - rising edge © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 35 PC may solve the problem, use a faster PC. - working with SPCM-GUI use Alignment-Panel in- stead of Bar-, Graph- and Table-Panel and/or make the panel as small as possible or shrink it to the task bar. © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 36 16. Start Measurement Starts counting in user mode (1) and enables counting in all other modes (running) [SENS:][COUN:]MEASure:STARt 17. Stop Measurement Stops counting in user mode (1) and disables counting in all other modes (not running) MEASure:STOP © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 37 (STATus:MEASurement:CLEar) . 18. Clear Measurement State STATus:MEASurement:CLEar Clears the accumulated state bits. 19. Set Fan State SYSTem:FAN[:STATe] {OFF | 0 | ON | 1} with values OFF | 0 - fan off ON | 1 - fan on © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 38 Remark: Setting DFU state to 1 or 2 results in enumeration of the USB device - the connection will be lost. Do not power off the device until firmware update is complete. Use Thorlabs DFU Wizard downloadable from the Thorlabs webside for updating the firmware of the SPCM.
  • Page 39 2 - DFU once (disappears after device power cycle) Remark: DFU state must be 1 or 2 in order to enable the device to get a firmware update. 25. Get Detector Saturation Voltage (APD saturation measurement) [SENS:][COUN:]SATUration:VOLTage? Returns actual saturation voltage: 0.0 - 3.3 [V] © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 40: Maintenance And Service

    Information on the SPCMxxA hardware can be retrieved from the menu bar: Information on the current software version can be found in Help menu: Please have this information ready when you are contacting Thorlabs for technical support. © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 41: Spcm Firmware Update

    The DFU Firmware Upgrade Wizard is included in the software CD, shipped with the SPCMxxA. Insert the CD and choose from the start menu the topic "DFU Wizard". Then please follow the steps as shown in the screenshots hereinafter: © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 42 SPCMxxA © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 43 5 Maintenance and Service © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 44: Firmware Update

    Prior to proceed with the firmware update, an actual FW version must be downloaded from www.thorlabs.com. Therefore, please open the SPCM product page and click to the tab "Soft- ware" in the main table. In the software tab, click on the link that will redirect you to our Product Software pages.
  • Page 45 Executing the firmware update Start the FW update program from Windows-Button -> All Programs -> Thorlabs -> Device Firmware Upgrade Wizard: Click "Next" to continue. In the next dialog you will be prompted to choose the *.dfu file. Click to "Browse"...
  • Page 46 SPCMxxA Click "Select" to continue. In the subsequent dialogs, click "Next": Click "Start" to run the FW upgrade. The DFU Wizard installs the driver for SPCM bootloader; after finishing click "Close" © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 47 Click "Finish". The DFU Wizard closes, the SPCM is reset and the USB connection to the DFU device is terminated. The SPCMxxA resumes to appear as a Test and Measurement. Now, the SPCM GUI can be restarted. From the Device->Device Information menu the actual FW ver- sion can be retrieved: © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 48: Troubleshooting

    SPCM thermal radiation can cause overtemperature alert. Make sure the fan is switched on and operates (rotation and air stream) ð Make sure the SPCM heat sink is not covered and that the fan's air stream is not blocked. ð © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 49 The signal level at Gate / Trigger In is TTL compatible, however (see Technical Data) this input has an impedance of 50 W, so that pulse amplitudes from a standard function generator may be lowered. Make sure, your trigger / gating pulse source is capable to work on a 50 W load. ð © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 50: Appendix

    (Bin Length + Time between Bins < 0.020 ms), the max. array size is limited to 1,000. Dead Time is the time interval the detector spends in its recovery state. During this time, it is ef- fectively blind to incoming photons. © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 51 At a certain input power level, the photon count begins even to decrease with further raise of optical power. As for this reason, a saturation alert is displayed as soon as the photon count is no more in- creasing with increasing incident CW power. © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 52: Pulse Out

    SPCMxxA Pulse Out Below a typical pulse shape at the Pulse Out SMA connector is shown: © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 53: Technical Data

    ) In External Gating mode; delay between trigger signal (at Gate / Trigger In) and enabling Pulse Out ) non-condensing All technical data are valid at 23 ± 5°C and 45 ± 15% rel. humidity (non condensing), after 10 min. warm-up time © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 54: Dimensions

    SPCMxxA Dimensions Dimensions of the SPCMxxA (imperial version) © 2019 Thorlabs...
  • Page 55 6 Appendix Dimensions of the SPCMxxA/M (metric version) © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 56: Certifications And Compliances

    ) Compliance demonstrated using high-quality shielded interface cables. ) Emissions, which exceed the levels required by these standards, may occur when this equipment is connected to a test object. ) Minimum Immunity Test requirement. ) Replaces 73/23/EEC, amended by 93/68/EEC. © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 57: Warranty

    Thorlabs warrants material and production of the SPCMxxA for a period of 24 months starting with the date of shipment. During this warranty period Thorlabs will see to defaults by repair or by exchange if these are entitled to warranty.

  • Page 58: Thorlabs 'End Of Life' Policy (Weee)

    Waste treatment on your own responsibility If you do not return an “end of life” unit to Thorlabs, you must hand it to a company specialized in waste recovery. Do not dispose of the unit in a litter bin or at a public waste disposal site.

  • Page 59: List Of Acronyms

    The following acronyms and abbreviations are used in this manual: Avalanche Photo Diode Central Processing Unit Continuous Wave Device Firmware Update FirmWare Graphic User Interface NI-VISA National Instruments Virtual Instrument Software Architecture SCPI Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments SPCM Single Photon Counter Module Universal Serial Bus © 2019 Thorlabs...

  • Page 60: Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts

    SPCMxxA 6.11 Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts For technical support or sales inquiries, please visit us at www.thorlabs.com/contact for our most up-to- date contact information. USA, Canada, and South America UK and Ireland Thorlabs, Inc. Thorlabs Ltd. sales@thorlabs.com sales.uk@thorlabs.com techsupport@thorlabs.com techsupport.uk@thorlabs.com Europe...
  • Page 61 www.thorlabs.com...

This manual is also suitable for:

Spcm20aSpcm50aSpcm20a/mSpcm50a/m

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