AVALANCHE PHOTODIODES FOR MICROSCOPES

摘要

There is disclosed an improved photoluminescence microscope for detecting optical radiation above a wavelength of 1500nm. Known microscopes, using silicon and germanium single photon avalanche diode detectors, have been limited to detection wavelengths shorter than 1500nm, and therefore have stopped short of the spectral region known as the third telecommunications window, from 1500 to 1500nm, which is the wavelength range within which most long-haul telecommunications devices are designed to operate. The present invention therefore provides a photoluminescence microscope (10) having at least one detector element (14) capable of detecting optical radiation above a wavelength of 1500nm.