Abstract

The ability to freeze light in motion with picoseconds resolution has applications in various fields, such as depth imaging, fluorescence lifetime microscopy and measurements of ultrafast phenomena. Existing technologies that provide the resolution to capture light in motion are often limited in sensitivity and imaging capability. Here, we show that we can perform single-photon sensitive light-in-flight imaging by using an array of single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detector. This detector has a temporal resolution to resolve light moving on a centimetre scale and can record the full spatial and temporal information of a scene in a single measurement. In addition, its sensitivity allows the measurement of very low intensity events; in particular, it can record laser pulses as they travel in air, only by detecting light scattering by air molecules.

© 2015 IEEE