Fluorescence lifetime measurements using photon pair correlations generated via spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC)

Journal Article · Fri Jul 28 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Optics Express

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.494744· OSTI ID:1992955

Eshun, Audrey ; Yi, Xiyu; Wilson, Ashleigh; Jeppson, Sam; Yoo, Jae Hyuck ; Kiannejad, Shervin; Rushford, Mike; Bond, Tiziana; Laurence, Ted

We have used photon pair correlations generated via spontaneous parametric downconversion (SPDC) to measure the fluorescence lifetime of the organic dye rhodamine 6 G, demonstrating that fluorescence lifetime measurements can be achieved using a continuous wave (CW) laser, without pulsed or modulated lasers. Our entangled photon method, quantum fluorescence lifetime (Q-FL) measurements, uses one photon to excite fluorescence and the resulting fluorescence photon is timed and referenced to the arrival time of the other entangled photon. Thus, we can exploit the short timescale of photon pair correlations to conduct experiments that are typically carried out with pulsed lasers and we show that the inherent timing of the photons is fast enough to resolve the nanosecond scale fluorescence lifetime of the sample. This measurement paves the way towards using the time correlations of entangled photons for fluorescence imaging; capitalizing on the presence of fast, sub-100 ps correlations that have not been demonstrated classically.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
• Grant/Contract Number: SCW1713
• OSTI ID: 1992955
• Journal Information: Optics Express, Journal Name: Optics Express Vol. 31 Journal Issue: 16; ISSN 1094-4087
• Publisher: Optical Society of America
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English