FEMTO GmbH has introduced the new FWPR-20 photoreceivers for the detection of low light level optical signals down to the Femtowatt range.

The FWPR-20 covers the spectral range of 320 to 1700 nm with its built in Si or InGaAs photodiode. The photoreceiver uses a transimpedance amplifier with very low noise to produce very high gain of up to 10^12 V/A. The resulting noise equivalent power - NEP - is a minimal 0.7 fW/root Hz. This performance allows the detection of optical powers as low as 50 fW. When combined with an optional FEMTO lock-in amplifier, sub-fW sensitivity can be achieved.

The high sensitivity the FWPR-20 series Femtowatt photoreceivers makes them well suited as compact and low-cost replacements for APDs and PMTs. No costly high voltage power supply or cooling system is required. The FWPR-20-SI offers high sensitivity and quantum efficiency in the visible and NIR spectral range comparable to that of APD based single photon counting modules. For NIR spectroscopy the InGaAs model FWPR-20-IN achieves similar results as a much more expensive and complex system based on a liquid nitrogen cooled Germanium detector. Because of the FWPR-20’s very high-gain, no additional amplification is needed.

The applications for the FWPR-20 include the measurement of weak optical signals in spectroscopy, electrophoresis, chromatography, fluorescence measurements and the replacement of photomultipliers (PMTs), avalanche photodiodes (APDs) and liquid nitrogen cooled germanium detectors.

FEMTO manufactures a line of high quality specialty amplifiers for signal recovery and processing. These products also include Low Noise Current Amplifiers, High and Low Frequency Voltage Amplifiers, High Speed GHz Amplifiers, Photoreceivers and Lock-In Amplifiers.

Link: Photoreceivers

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