Pushing single photon array cameras to the limits: single molecule widefield lifetime imaging.

With the use of a new generation single photon array, I will discuss our work towards developing a robust platform for performing single molecule widefield fluorescent lifetime imaging.
SPAD arrays are becoming a widely used technology, combining the widefield aspects of conventional CCD or CMOS with the single photon detection and time tagging capabilities of single photon detectors. Our work focuses on microscopy applications, mainly fluorescent lifetime imaging. I will give a brief overview of this new type of SPAD array “SPCImager” as well as the trade off in photon collection with temporal resolution for lifetime work, comparing the results with a state-of-the-art commercial scanning single point fluorescent lifetime system. I will also explain the challenges of single molecule imaging, and how advanced microscopy modalities, modelling and optics are all used to push the SPAD array technology to its limits.