Single photon spectrometer

Abstract

A fiberized single photon sensitive spectrometer on a 32-channel PMT sensor is highly sensitive with broad detection dynamic range. The spectrometer enables accurate and high speed detection, identification and analysis of biological samples labeled with multiple fluorescent markers, such as compositions of multi-color fluorescence signals or radiation emitted by multiple fluorescence dyes. A fiberized optical input of the spectrometer allows an easy and efficient coupling to any measurement system based on fiber collection of the analyzed fluorescence. The spectrometer provides highly accurate DNA sequencing. A 32 channel PMT single photon detector has a detection dynamic range of more than 20 bits and has a frame rate of about 3300 frames per second. The dynamic range of the detector's pixels reaches 10 8 photocounts per second.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A single photon sensor comprising optical fibers adapted to receive a single wavelength of incident polychromatic light and to communicate said single wavelength of light to photosensitive pixels defining one or more channels of a multichannel photosensor. 
     
     
         21 . The single photon sensor of  claim 20  in which said incident polychromatic light consists of fluorescent spectra produced by a mixture formed by a plurality of fluorescent dyes. 
     
     
         22 . The single photon sensor of  claim 21  in which said optical fibers comprise input ends defining a predetermined angle of acceptance of light corresponding to a single wavelength of said incident fluorescent spectra. 
     
     
         23 . The single photon sensor of  claim 22  in which each of said optical fibers is adapted to receive a single wavelength of said incident fluorescent spectra different from the wavelength of incident fluorescent spectra received by others of said optical fibers, and to communicate said single wavelength of incident fluorescent spectra to a corresponding one of the channels of said multichannel photosensor. 
     
     
         24 . The single photon sensor of  claim 22  in which a predetermined plurality of said optical fibers is adapted to receive a single wavelength of said incident fluorescent spectra, and to communicate said single wavelength of incident fluorescent spectra to a corresponding plurality of the channels of said multichannel photosensor. 
     
     
         25 .- 32 . (canceled)