qutools Quantum Optics

qutools develops, manufactures and distributes quantum information products, which include: entangled photon sources, quantum random number generators, quantum cryptography systems and quantum optics components. Most of the products have been developed and/or tested in the quantum information research labs of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich. It is the aim of qutools to continue developing new tools and improving existing tools for quantum information science, quantum metrology and quantum cryptography.

quTAU

The quTAU system can be used to transfer the time tags of registered events with picosecond (ps) precision and at high rates to a PC. Additionally, it can count single and multiple channel coincident events at even higher rates internally and convey those to a PC. As a standard time-to-digital converter (TDC), quTAU registers incoming signal events on 8 independent channels, records their exact time (bin size 81 ps) and channel number and communicates these to a PC. A graphical user interface is supplied for Windows and Linux, software examples are available for C/C++ (Windows and Linux) and LabVIEW. For some applications it is not important to know the absolute time of its occurrence, but only whether or not it appeared within a short timing window (the so-called coincidence window) around an event at another channel. For this purpose the user can set a coincidence timing window and then the quTAU counts events that happen individually or coincident with another event for the different combinations of channels (4 channels are used for this purpose). Because of the reduced amount of data, this mode can handle significantly higher event rates.

The quTAU (H+) incorporates three new extensions that make it useful for more purposes than the basic quTAU. These are:

Input Hardware Extension: The input extension widens the range of signals able to be processed with regard to signal levels and maximum rate. Adjustable threshold comparators at each channel allow the quTAU (H+) to process NIM and user defined signals as well as (LV)TTL. One channel additionally features a divider so that high frequency periodic signals can be used as triggers.

Lifetime Software Extension: This software add-on enables the user to analyze lifetime measurements on the fly. Together with the input hardware extension, high frequency trigger signals can be used. The software calculates the required histograms, fits exponential decreases and takes response functions of the system into account.

HBT Software Extension: This software extension is intended for Hanbury-Brown Twiss experiments. It calculates the g(2)(τ) function from the detection times of two inputs. Standard functions can be fitted to assess the relevant parameters.

quTAU Key Features

8 input channels (LV)TTL
81 ps resolution (bin size)
USB 2.0 interface
Compact and easy-to-use
Graphical user interface and device drivers for Windows and Linux
Example software for C/C++ and LabVIEW

Additional quTAU (H+) Key Features

8 input channels (LV)TTL / NIM / User adjustable settings
1 channel features divider for periodic input signals (e.g. laser synchronization)

Applications

Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC)
Quantum Optics<
Quantum Cryptography / Quantum Key Distribution
High Energy Physics
High Precision Time Measurements
Fluorescence Microscopy
Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging
Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy
LIDAR

quTAU Datasheet

quTAG

The quTAG is a high-speed Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) system. It is capable of detecting events with a digital resolution of 1 picosecond (ps) and a jitter under 10 ps RMS using four to 16 different channels. This allows it to capture up to 100 million time tags per second. It registers all signals between -2 up to +3 volts, like the widely used LVTTL or NIM. Separate channels for start and external clock are usable on the front panel. It connects with a computer via USB, preferably USB 3.0, to transfer the extensive data. It is delivered including software for Windows and Linux with an easy to use graphical user interface. DLLs and examples for LabVIEW and Python also are included.

Key Features

< 25 ps / < 10 ps timing jitter (FWHM/RMS)
100 MEvents/s max. rate
1 ps digital resolution
4 stop channels, 1 start channel
Max. 16 stop channels

Applications

Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC)
Quantum Optics / Information / Communication
Fluorescence / Phosphorescence Lifetime Imaging
Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)
Stimulated Emission Depletion Microscopy (STED)
Foerster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)
Single Photon Emitter Characterization
LIDAR

Specifications

Timing jitter	< 10 ps RMS < 25 ps FWHM
Digital resolution	1 ps
Number of stop channels	4 (max. 16)
Max event rate	100 M/s (per device) 25 M/s (per channel)
Input signals	e.g. LVTTL, NIM everything between -2 V and +3 V
Input connectors	SMA
Connection to PC	USB 3.0 USB 2.0
Software	GUI, DLL, LabVIEW, Python, Command line Windows, Linux
Dimensions	44 cm x 30 cm x 5 cm

quTAG Datasheet

See the quTAG product page at qutools.com for Use Case Examples

quRNG

The qutool quRNG 50 is a quantum random number generator (QRNG, also known as quantum random bit generator QRBG) producing true random numbers with a maximum bit rate of 50 Mbit/s. It is read out via a USB-2.0 interface. The source of randomness is based on the uncertainty of the detection time of photons emitted from a light emitting diode (LED). These photons are collected by a single photon detector at a high rate and subsequently digitized. The random bit stream can be output at an adjustable rate. With careful tuning of the LED’s light intensity, post processing can be omitted completely. The output of the quRNG 50 passes the usual test suites for physical random number generators. There are research and industrial versions available. Both versions continuously run tests on the state of the random bit stream to ensure their high quality level.