The Supercontinuum Laser as a Flexible Source for Quasi-Steady State and Time Resolved Fluorescence Studies

摘要

Commercial Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometers have long suffered from the lack of a simple, compact and relatively inexpensive broad spectral band light source that can be flexibly employed for both quasi-steady state and time resolvedrnmeasurements (using Time Correlated Single Photon Counting [TCSPC]). This paper reports the integration of anrnoptically pumped photonic crystal fibre, supercontinuum source1 (Fianium model SC400PP) as a light source in Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometers (Edinburgh Instruments FLS920 and Lifespec II), with single photon counting detectors (micro-channel plate photomultiplier and a near-infrared photomultiplier) covering the UV to NIR range. An innovative method of spectral selection of the supercontinuum source involving wedge interference filters is also discussed.