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quTAG

State of the art time-to-digital converter

  • quTAG - state of the art time-to-digital converter

  • Overview
  • Specifications
  • Jitter Measurement
  • Extensions
  • Applications
  • Use cases
  • Coding Examples
  • Videos
  • Downloads

Key Features

Digital resolution 1 ps
Timing jitter down to 3.0 ps (RMS) / 7.0 ps (FWHM)
100 MEvents/s max. rate
Up to 16 stop channels, 1 start channel

The quTAG is a high-end, easy-to-use time-to-digital converter and time tagging device designed for time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC). It is capable of detecting events with a digital resolution of 1 picosecond and a jitter under 10 ps RMS. Its user-adjustable design registers all signals between -3V up to +3 V, like the widely used LVTTL or NIM. It allows capturing up to 100 million time tags per second and uses a USB3.0 connection to transfer the extensive data. It is delivered with software for Windows and Linux with an easy-to-use graphical user interface. It can also be integrated in custom software. Examples for LabView, C/C++ and Python are included.

Standard model

This model features 1 start and 4 stop channels. A separate channel for external clock is available and easily accessible on the front panel. The device allows synchronizing with up to four standard models with all 16 stop channels using the same timebase and clock input. The software includes an analyzing tool for lifetime measurements and correlation functions (e.g. HBT measurements, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy).

Specifications

SpecificationValueUnit
Digital resolution1ps
Timing jitter upgrade 2 channels< 3.0
< 4.2
ps RMS /√2 *
ps RMS
Timing jitter< 7.1
< 10
ps RMS /√2 *
ps RMS
Number of stop channelsstandard: 4
(max. 16)
(basic: 2 obsolete)
Max event rate100
25
M/s (per device)
M/s (per channel)
Input signals-3 ... +3
e.g. LVTTL, NIM
V
Input connectorsSMA
Connection to PCUSB 3.0
USB 2.0
SoftwareGUI, DLL, LabView, Python, Command line
Windows, Linux
Dimensions44 x 30 x 5cm x cm x cm

All specifications can be found in the datasheet.
* See the tab “Jitter Measurement” for measurement method.

Jitter Measurement

In order to measure the jitter, we generate an electrical pulse with steep edges. This pulse gets split into two by a power splitter and sent into two different inputs of the quTAG (i.e. start and stop-X or stop-X and stop-Y).
Then we use the quTAG software to generate a startstop-histogram. We fit a Gaussian function to this histogram and determine RMS and FWHM. The single channel jitter corresponds to σ / √2 from this two-channel measurement, assuming equal Gaussian contributions from both signals. The FWHM can be obtained by the standard deviation with the relation FWHM = 2 √2 ln 2 σ ≈ 2.35 σ.

The evaluation of the measurements shown above yields the measured jitter and calculated single channel jitter for the different modes:

Jitter upgrade 2 ch. RMS [ps] FWHM [ps]
Measurement 3.28 7.71
Single channel jitter 2.32 5.49
Jitter upgrade 4 ch. RMS [ps] FWHM [ps]
Measurement 4.57 10.74
Single channel jitter 3.23 7.59
Standard RMS [ps] FWHM [ps]
Measurement 8.07 18.96
Single channel jitter 5.70 13.40

Extensions

Available Extensions standard model
+ Jitter upgrade
This feature allows lower jitter at < 6.4 ps RMS on all four input channels. For lowest jitter of < 4.2 ps RMS, two channels can be combined, leaving two stop-channels of one device for measurements. For optimal jitter results, recalibration with external signals might be necessary.
The single channel jitter corresponds to σ / √2 from this two-channel measurement, assuming equal Gaussian contributions from both signals.Leading to single channel jitter < 3.0 ps RMS/√2 (2 channels) and < 4.5 ps RMS/√2 (4 channels).

+ Stop channel extension
The quTAG basic features two stop channels that can be extended by up to two more flexible stop channels. The quTAG standard has all 4 stop channels enabled by default.
+ Lifetime software
This software addon enables the user to analyze lifetime measurements on the fly. It calculates the histograms, fits exponential decreases and takes response function of the system into account.
+ Correlation software
This software extension is intended for calculating the correlation function, as needed for example in Hanbury Brown-Twiss experiments or fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Standard functions can be fitted to assess the relevant parameters.
+ Clock Input
The quTAG can be synchronized to an external clock of 10 MHz to allow more precise long-term accuracy.
+ Synchronization between devices
This extension allows you to synchronize up to 4 quTAG devices. By this, up to 16 equal stop channels are offered and behave like one device – all sharing the same clock input and time base.
+ Marker Input
This extension allows the use of additional input channels with less resolution that can be used for your trigger signals (e.g. pixel clock, line clock). These inputs are included in your timeline and help you sorting and assigning your timestamps.
+ Filters / Virtual Channels
This extension allows you to enable user-defined filters or virtual channels (e.g. coincidence and sync filters or artificial dead time). This filtering happens inside the device so that you save bandwith on your USB connection.


+ User-defined Clock frequency
Allow to use any frequency between 1-100 MHz as clock input for long-term accuracy.
+ Start Channel as Input
The start channel can be converted to another stop channel allowing the device to have 5 completely equal input channels with 1 ps resolution.
+ Divider for stop channels
This option allows you to enable a divider on all stop channels. This allows higher (periodic) frequencies to be recorded.
– included
– upgradeable

Additional extensions are available upon request. Customized solutions, e.g. signal outputs, are possible. Contact us for details!

Publications

General Applications

Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC)
Fluorescence/Phosphorescence Lifetime Measurements / Imaging (FLT / FLIM)
Fluorescence (Lifetime) Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS / FLCS)
Foerster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)
Single Photon Emitter Characterisation
We used the quTAG for two experiments together with the superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) from our long-time collaborators at Single Quantum. The results proved the efficiency and speed that we expected as we engineered the quTAG.

Laser trigger as Start, Single Quantum SNSPD as Stop

We measured a time difference histogram between the trigger pulse from the laser as start and the SQ detector signal as stop.
This is basically the setup for a Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) measurement..

Results:
Whole system response function (blue, measured with quTAG): Timing jitter 17.8 ps RMS, 35.9 ps FWHM
For comparison: Detector response function (red, measured with fast oscilloscope): Timing jitter 14.5 ps RMS, 26.1 ps FWHM.

 

One SQ Detector as Start, another one as Stop

Here, we measured the time difference histogram between one of the two SQ SNSPDs as Start and the other one as Stop pulse.

Results:
Timing jitter of 2 SQ SNSPDs measured with the quTAG (blue): 21.6 ps RMS, 45.6 ps FWHM.

Overview of quick and easy Python Coding Examples

Python is a popular coding language for labs and institutes. Therefore, qutools created a Python file to wrap all the DLL or SO (Win/Linux) functions to gain quick and easy control of the hardware.

The following list shows the different examples using this wrapper. An explanation is added to each code.

  • Retrieve Countrates and Coincidences
  • Live Plotting of Countrates with matplotlib
  • Create and retrieve a histogram of two channels
  • Live Plotting of the histogram with a changing channel delay
  • Retrieve timestamps
  • Write timestamps to a file on the PC
  • Change different settings of the quTAG
Download all Python Examples 07/2022 0.7 MB zip
quTAG software manual V1.5.0 – Example explanation 10/2019 0.3 MB pdf

First Coding Example: How to retrieve Countrates

The following codes show how to quickly connect to the quTAG via Python. The quTAG.py file wraps all DLL functions to get simple access via your own code.


In the first example qutag-GetCoincCounter-starter_example.py we are retrieving countrates and coincidences of the quTAG and its input channels.

# quTAG Python example codes based on the quTAG Python wrapper.
# Run with Python 3.7.3 (32bit), numpy-1.13.3 and Windows 7 (64bit)

# Import the python wrapper which wraps the DLL functions.
# The wrapper should be in the same directory like this code in the folder '../QUTAG-V1.5.0/userlib/src'.
try:
	import QuTAG
except:
	print('Time Tagger wrapper QuTAG.py is not in the search path.')
	
	
#Initialize the quTAG device
qutag = QuTAG.QuTAG()
# Set the exposure time (or integration time) of the internal coincidence counters in milliseconds, range = 0...65535
qutag.setExposureTime(1000) # 1000 ms exposure time
# Give some time to accumulate data
time.sleep(1) # 1 second sleep time with 100ms exposure time would give ~10 times data we don't get

# Now let's retrieve the most recent values of the built-in coincidence counters from quTAG.
# The array contains count rates for all 5 channels and rates for coincidences of events detected on different channels. Events are coincident if they happen within the coincidence window (qutag.setCoincidenceWindow).
# The coincidence counters are not accumulated, i.e. the counter values for the last exposure (see setExposureTime ) are returned.
data,updates = qutag.getCoincCounters()
print('Updates since last call: ', updates, '| latest Data: ', data)
# updates	Output: Number of data updates by the device since the last call. Pointer may be NULL.
# data	        Output: Counter Values. The array must have at least 31 elements.
#                       The Counters come in the following channel order with single counts and coincidences:
#                       0(5), 1, 2, 3, 4, 1/2, 1/3, 2/3, 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 1/5, 2/5, 3/5, 4/5, 1/2/3, 1/2/4, 1/3/4, 2/3/4, 1/2/5, 1/3/5, 2/3/5, 1/4/5, 2/4/5, 3/4/5, 1/2/3/4, 1/2/3/5, 1/2/4/5, 1/3/4/5, 2/3/4/5, 1/2/3/4/5 
### see 'tdcbase.h' file reference for more info: function TDC_getCoincCounters(Int32 *data, Int32 *updates)

Videos

Datasheet & Manuals

quTAG datasheet 07/2022 0.3 MB pdf
quTAG manual V1.4.0 05/2019 0.9 MB pdf
quTAG software manual V1.5.0 10/2019 0.3 MB pdf
quTAG & Matlab technical note 10/2019 0.3 MB pdf
quTAG brochure 02/2022 2.4 MB pdf

Software

* Note! This software is compatible only with serial number T 01 0012 and newer! Please contact us if you own an older device!

FTDI driver V1.2 10.4 MB exe
Python examples 07/2022 0.7 MB zip
DLL Documentation 07/2022 web
Software for Serial Number
quTAG software installer V1.5.10 – 32 bit 08/2023 33.4 MB exe
quTAG Daisy & DLL V1.5.10 – 32 bit 08/2023 34.0 MB zip
quTAG Daisy & DLL V1.5.10 – 64 bit 08/2023 21.4 MB zip
quTAG software linux V1.5.10 – 64 bit 08/2023 6.2 MB tgz
Please contact info@qutools.com for SN: T 01

* Note! This software is compatible only with serial number T 01 0012 and newer! Please contact us if you own an older device!