Photon counting is a unified name for the techniques using single-photon detection for accumulative measurements of the light flux, normally occurring under extremely low-light conditions. Nowadays, this approach can be applied to the wide variety of the radiation wavelengths, starting from X-ray and deep ultraviolet transitions and ending with far-infrared part of the spectrum. As a special tribute to the photon counting, the studies of cosmic microwave background radiation in astronomy, the experiments with muon detection, and the large-scale fundamental experiments on the nature of matter should be noted. The book provides readers with an overview on the fundamentals and state-of-the-art applications of photon counting technique in the applied science and everyday life.

In 1984 Desmond O’Connor and David Phillips published their comprehensive book „Time-correlated Single Photon Counting“. At that time time-correlated s- gle photon counting, or TCSPC, was used primarily to record fluorescence decay functions of dye solutions in cuvettes. From the beginning, TCSPC was an am- ingly sensitive and accurate technique with excellent time-resolution. However, acquisition times were relatively slow due to the low repetition rate of the light sources and the limited speed of the electronics of the 70s and early 80s. Moreover, TCSPC was intrinsically one-dimensional, i.e. limited to the recording of the wa- form of a periodic light signal. Even with these limitations, it was a wonderful te- nique. More than 20 years have elapsed, and electronics and laser techniques have made impressive progress. The number of transistors on a single chip has approximately doubled every 18 months, resulting in a more than 1,000-fold increase in compl- ity and speed. The repetition rate and power of pulsed light sources have increased by about the same factor.

Time-correlated Single Photon Counting has been written in the hope that by relating the authors' experiences with a variety of different single photon counting systems, they may provide a useful service to users and potential users of this formidably sensitive technique. Of all the techniques available to obtain information on the rates of depopulation of excited electronic singlet states of molecular species, monitoring of fluorescence provides, in principle, the simplest and most direct measure of concentration. This volume comprises eight chapters, with the first focusing on the time dependence and applications of fluorescence. Succeeding chapters go on to discuss basic principles of the single photon counting lifetime measurement; light sources; photomultipliers; electronics; data analysis; nanosecond time-resolved emission spectroscopy; time dependence of fluorescence anisotropy. This book will be of interest to practitioners in the field of chemistry.

This volume focuses on Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC), a powerful tool allowing luminescence lifetime measurements to be made with high temporal resolution, even on single molecules. Combining spectrum and lifetime provides a “fingerprint” for identifying such molecules in the presence of a background. Used together with confocal detection, this permits single-molecule spectroscopy and microscopy in addition to ensemble measurements, opening up an enormous range of hot life science applications such as fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) and measurement of Förster Resonant Energy Transfer (FRET) for the investigation of protein folding and interaction. Several technology-related chapters present both the basics and current state-of-the-art, in particular of TCSPC electronics, photon detectors and lasers. The remaining chapters cover a broad range of applications and methodologies for experiments and data analysis, including the life sciences, defect centers in diamonds, super-resolution microscopy, and optical tomography. The chapters detailing new options arising from the combination of classic TCSPC and fluorescence lifetime with methods based on intensity fluctuation represent a particularly unique highlight.

The book describes the fundamentals, latest developments and use of key experimental techniques for semiconductor research. It explains the application potential of various analytical methods and discusses the opportunities to apply particular analytical techniques to study novel semiconductor compounds, such as dilute nitride alloys. The emphasis is on the technique rather than on the particular system studied.

The advances in semiconductor detectors, scintillators, photodetectors such as silicon photomultipliers (SiPM), and readout electronics have experienced tremendous growth in recent years in terms of basic technologies and a variety of applications. The second edition of Radiation Detection Systems presents variety of radiation detection systems, giving readers a broad view of the state-of-the-art in the design of detectors, front-end electronics, and systems offering optimized choices of the detection tools for a particular application. The new edition has been divided into two volumes. This volume on Medical Imaging, Industrial Testing, and Security Applications presents specific applications of the detection systems in medical imaging, industrial testing, and security applications. These newely developed technologies play a vital role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of major human diseases. Featuring contributions from leading experts and pioneers in their respective fields, this book: Describes new advances in development of detection systems based on CdZnTe (CZT) and CdTe detectors utilizing a direct conversion of radiation to electric signals Reports a recent progress in technologies and performance of SiPM used for reading the light from scintillators Explores exciting new application opportunities created by development of the cutting-edge detection technologies in X-ray spectroscopy, computed tomography (CT), bone dosimetry, and nuclear medicine (PET, SPECT) Considers the future use of photon-counting detectors in clinical CT scanners providing K-edge imaging to reduce the amount of contrast agents and ultimately offering both an anatomical and a functional information Describes, uses of radiation detection systems in security applications such as luggage scanning, dirty bomb detection, and border control With its combined coverage of new materials and innovative new system approaches, as well as a succinct overview of recent developments, this book is an invaluable tool for any engineer, professional, or student working in electronics or an associated field. Readers can refer to the other volume, Sensor Materials, Systems, Technology, and Characterization Measurements, which puts emphasis on sensor materials, detector structures, front electronics technology, and their designs and system optimization for different applications.

Spectral, Photon Counting Computed Tomography is a comprehensive cover of the latest developments in the most prevalent imaging modality (x-ray computed tomography (CT)) in its latest incarnation: Spectral, Dual-Energy, and Photon Counting CT. Disadvantages of the conventional single-energy technique used by CT technology are that different materials cannot be distinguished and that the noise is larger. To address these problems, a novel spectral CT concept has been proposed. Spectral Dual-Energy CT (DE-CT) acquires two sets of spectral data, and Spectral Photon Counting CT (PC-CT) detects energy of x-ray photons to reveal additional material information of objects by using novel energy-sensitive, photon-counting detectors. The K-edge imaging may be a gateway for functional or molecular CT. The book covers detectors and electronics, image reconstruction methods, image quality assessments, a simulation tool, nanoparticle contrast agents, and clinical applications for spectral CT.