Simultaneous detection of time-resolved emission spectra using a multianode PMT and new time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) electronics with a 5-MHz count rate

We present data of simultaneously time and spectrally resolved measurements with the time correlated single photon counting technique using our new SPC-300 PC plug-in module combined with a 64 multianode PMT from Philips and a specially designed router. The SPC- 300 card records in up to 128 time channels simultaneously with a count rate of up to 5 MHz. In this paper we show the performance of the electronics for single decay curves using a MCP-PMT detector from Hamamatsu (R 3809U) and for wavelength resolved detection using an 8*8 multi-anode PMT from Philips (XP1702). An ultimate instrumental response function (IRF) of 34 ps and a maximum count rate of 300 000 cps was achieved by using the ultrafast MCP-PMT and a subtractive double monochromator. By using the multimode PMT coupled to a polychromator we got an IRF of 800 ps at 2.3*106 cps. The fluorescence signal was recorded at 8 different wavelengths simultaneously. For the test measurements we used pure Fluorescein, Rhodamin 6G and DODCI solution as well as a mixture of Fluorescein and DODCI. We got an excellent distinction between the two species. The decay times (3.9 ns, 1.1 ns) are in good agreement with the single curve measurement at a fixed wavelength.