New: Femtowatt Photoreceiver Series FWPR-20 Si and InGaAs

Two new models manufactured by FEMTO are available with either a built-in Si or InGaAs photodiode to cover a spectral range from 320 to 1700 nm. The photoreceivers incorporate a transimpedance amplifier with very low noise and extremely high gain of up to 1012 V/A. The resulting noise equivalent power, NEP, is minimal just 0.7 fW/root Hz allowing the direct detection of optical powers down to 50 fW. When combined with an optional FEMTO lock-in amplifier even sub-fW sensitivity can be achieved.

Due to their very high sensitivity the FWPR-20 series Femtowatt photoreceivers are well suited as compact and low-cost replacements for APDs and PMTs as no costly high voltage power supply or cooling system are required.

The FWPR-20-SI offers high sensitivity and quantum efficiency in the visible and NIR spectral range comparable to that of APD based single photon counting modules. For NIR spectroscopy the InGaAs model FWPR-20-IN achieves similar results as a much more expensive and complex system based on a liquid nitrogen cooled Germanium detector. As a result of the very high-gain of the integrated amplifier signals in the Volt range can be achieved directly at the FWPR-20’s output without the need for further post-amplification.

Applications include the sensitive measurement of small optical signals in spectroscopy, electrophoresis, chromatography, fluorescence measurements and the replacement of photomultipliers (PMTs), avalanche photodiodes (APDs) and liquid nitrogen cooled germanium detectors.