Andor Launches New Superfast Detector for Nanosecond Time-Resolved Imaging

Andor Technology Ltd., an Oxford Instruments company and world leader in scientific imaging and spectroscopy solutions, has announced the launch of its new iStar sCMOS platform featuring the latest in high speed and low noise scientific CMOS (sCMOS) technology.

It is a key addition to Andor’s iStar family, giving access to a unique combination of superfast frame rate capabilities greater than 4,000 fps, high sensitivity, high dynamic range, nanosecond gating and high throughput fiber-optic coupling on a single, fully integrated platform with a high resolution on-head Digital Delay Generator (DDG).

The innovative USB 3.0 iStar sCMOS boasts frame rates at least 50% faster than competing CCD or interline platforms (at equivalent pixel matrix size), while offering intrinsically low noise floor. A better signal-to-noise ratio can be achieved with lower intensifier amplification gain, yielding market-leading dynamic range performance. It also features ‘dual-frame’ capabilities for Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) with optical inter-frame as low as 300 ns.

The iStar series’ state-of-the-art gating interface offers true < 2 ns optical gating performance on a range of high QE Gen 2 and Gen 3 intensifiers. Gating repetition rates up to 500 kHz and Intelligate^TM multi-channel plate (MCP) gating maximize detection performance in challenging low light scenarios such as time-resolved Fluorescence/Photoluminescence and Echelle-based LIBS applications. The fully integrated, triple output DDG features an ultra-low insertion delay and excellent timing accuracy down to few 10’s of picoseconds, allowing for extremely precise synchronisation of complex experiments through a comprehensive range of input/output triggering options. Andor’s Solis software provides an intuitive interface to accurately synchronize gating and sCMOS parameters.

Acquisition speed and gating capabilities of the iStar sCMOS make it a highly attractive choice for fast plasma imaging, combustion studies based on Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF), transient absorption and time-resolved luminescence.

Antoine Varagnat, Product Manager at Andor Technology, said; “The iStar sCMOS is the only platform on the market to offer simultaneously high acquisition rates, high sensitivity, high dynamic range, large field of view and superb timing accuracy. It extracts the very best performance from sCMOS and gated image intensifier technology for nanosecond time-resolved imaging. Also designed with ease-of-use and integration in mind, the intuitive software interface for the iStar sCMOS, comprehensive SDK functionalities and control in Micro-Manager or EPICS platforms make this a powerful, yet versatile platform for both the Academic and OEM communities.”