TimeTagger

TimeTagger

TimeTagger: The low-cost, mid-resolution time-to-digital converter

If a time resolution in a range of a few 100 ps is sufficient for your application, the TimeTagger4 can replace our high-end TDCs at a lower cost.

cronologic presents an exciting series of low-cost, mid-resolution time-to-digital converters. These time interval analyzer boards feature a three-digit picosecond range bin size at a high readout bandwidth.

Time Taggers are ideally suitable in applications that do not require the highest resolution, but high data acquisition rates and the lowest multiple-hit dead time. These include certain types of mass spectroscopy (TOF-MS), time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC), and frequency counting applications.

TimeTaggers are high-bandwidth, low-cost, common-start time-to-digital converters (TDCs).

The timestamps of leading or trailing edges of digital pulses are recorded from the TimeTaggers with the following quantization (bin size):

• TimeTagger4-1.25G: 800 ps

• TimeTagger4-2.5G: 400 ps

• TimeTagger4-5G: 200 ps

• TimeTagger4-10G (available soon): TBA

For all these time interval meters, cronologic will support you with drivers for Windows and Linux.



Please note: "TimeTagger" is a registered trademark of cronologic.

All TimeTagger variants are also available for this purpose as TDC modules and can be installed viaboard-to-board connectors with minimal hardware effort.

Furthermore, we would like to point out that the TimeTagger4-2G and the TimeTagger4-1G are no longer in our current product range.

The TimeTagger4 is available at the lowest cost, while still providing picosecond resolution.

Low cost

The TimeTagger4 is available at the lowest cost, while still providing picosecond resolution.
The threshold discriminators can use positive or negative thresholds with configurable voltage. This allows you to use TimeTaggers with a wide range of detectors or constant fraction discriminators (CFD).

Bipolar

The threshold discriminators can use positive or negative thresholds with configurable voltage. This allows you to use TimeTaggers with a wide range of detectors or constant fraction discriminators (CFD).
All inputs can also be used to output periodic pulse patterns to control your setup. The exact timing of these is measured by the TDC.

TiGer timing generator

All inputs can also be used to output periodic pulse patterns to control your setup. The exact timing of these is measured by the TDC.

TimeTagger

Data

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TimeTagger

- Data

Optimized for
low cost
1 start & 4 stop channels
-
5x LEMO 00
800 / 400 / 200 / TBA ps
2 bins
1000x per start event
none
60 MHits/s total; 40 MHits/s per channel
1,67 ms / 430 ms extended
yes / no
no sync possible
PCIe2 x1 @ 400MB/s
50 ppb on board
TDC channels
Additional inputs
Connectors
bin size
Double pulse resolution
Multihit
Dead time between groups
Readout rate
Timestamp range
Common start/stop
Number of boards that can be synced
Readout interface
Time base
Linux support available
yes
low cost

Ndigo Crates

Our Ndigo Crates allow for using up to 8 PCIe-boards with a conventional PC. The external chassis is connected employing a  PCIe2 x16-interface.
Crate5
Crate3
Crate
PCIe3 x16
8 GByte/s
16x
2
3
2
0
included
PCIe3 x16
8 GByte/s
16x
2
3
0
2
included
PCIe2 x16
8 GByte/s
8x
0
8
0
0
included

Applications:

FLIM

(fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy)
The decay time of an excited fluorophore is typically in the range of a few nanoseconds. In fluorescence lifetime imaging the exponential decay of a sample is determined requiring a timing resolution in the picosecond regime.

LIDAR

also known as: LIDAR, LiDAR, and LADAR, "light detection and ranging", "laser imaging, detection, and ranging", "3-D laser scanning", "LIDAR mapping", "airborne laser scanning", ALS
LIDAR Systems emit ultraviolet, visible, or near-infrared light to image objects and measuring the time-of-flight (TOF) of reflected photons. Such systems are used for object detection and tracking in many different fields, ranging from archaeology to agriculture, autonomous vehicles and robots etc.

OTDR

optical time-domain reflectometry, optical time-domain reflectometer, remote fiber testing
In optical time-domain reflectometry the time of the reflections is determined from the reflection loss by measuring from the same end of the fiber how much light returns via the Rayleigh backscatter or is being reflected from individual locations along the fiber.

Quantum Sensing

see also: quantum metrology
Quantum sensing is an overall term that encompasses techniques and methods that use quantum mechanical phenomena to make precise measurements of physical quantities. Thereby, quantum mechanical states and effects are used to improve the measurement accuracy beyond the limits of classical sensors.

TOF mass spectrometry

TOF- & MASS- spectroscopy detectors, TOFMS
In many TOFMS units cronologic TDCs are used to measure precisely the arrival of single ions. From the arrival time, the ion’s time-of-flight is deduced, from which the mass-to-charge ratio of the detected particle can be determined.

Time Domain Reflectometry

TDR, distance-to-fault, DTF
TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry) is an electronic measurement method that measures reflections along a conductor. It belongs to the category of Distance-to-Fault (DTF) measurements. TDR measurements provide meaningful information about the broadband behavior of transmission systems.

Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting

TCSPC, photon counting, time-correlated single photon counting, detection of individual photons, single-photon detectors (SPD), photosensors
Whether in astrophysics, materials science, quantum information science, quantum encryption, medical imaging, DNA sequencing or in fiber-optic communication: Single-photon detectors (SPD) provide a timing signal from which, for example, fluorescence lifetimes of excited matter can be deduced.

fluorescence lifetime correlation spectroscopy

FLCS, FCS, fluorescence lifetime correlation spectroscopy
Fluorescence-correlation-spectroscopy is a highly sensitive optical measurement method. Fluctuations in the fluorescence emission intensity over time are recorded, which are caused by individual fluorophores that pass through the detection volume.

phase shift measurements

frequency and phase shift measurements, phase-noise-analyzers
In phase measurements the phase of an incident signal is compared to the phase of a device's response signal. With increasing frequency, such phase shift measurements become more challenging. cronologic TDCs provide many features which help to address this difficult task.

quantum research

Quantum research affects many areas of modern science: quantum cryptography, quantum information science, quantum encryption, quantum key distribution (QKD), quantum electro dynamics (QED), quantum computing etc.
Quantum phenomena such as superposition, uncertainty, and entanglement are studied in quantum research with the goal that they can be safely fabricated when needed and made useful in various disciplines.

spectral imaging

spectral image acquisition, X-ray, radiology, photon-counting computed tomography, microscopy, hyperspectral imaging
The currently most advanced spectral imaging technique is based on single photon-counting detectors. Such detectors typically require precise timing measurements and corresponding applications strongly benefit from fast data acquisition electronics.

Frequently asked Questions