How Single-Photon Counting Enables Countless Applications

Today, single-photon detection enables a variety of cutting-edge applications such as particle sizing for industrial process control; LiDAR and range-finding, wind measurement and air monitoring; fluorescence detection in life science research; and flow cytometry for detection of nanoparticles. It is even used to help cell phone cameras find their focus.

Looking to the future, single-photon detection will enable new applications: increasing LiDAR range while ensuring the laser source remains safe for people’s eyes in autonomous vehicles; secure communications, by detecting the single photons used for 1s and 0s in Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and by detecting entangled photons and calibrating the single-photon generators needed; in quantum computing, both by detecting the single photons used to generate or interrogate qubits; and many more.

Read about the science behind some of these applications and learn how single-photon counting enables emerging technologies in Photonics Spectra’s February 2022 issue, “How Single-Photon Counting Enables Countless Applications” by Richard Simons, Excelitas’ Product Manager, Low Level Light Detection.

Find out more here.