The Photon Counter
PicoQuant is focusing on the single molecule
Picoseconds and single photons are the measure of all things for PicoQuant. The Adlershof based company has committed itself to building exceptionally sensitive instruments. They are used to observe processes that elapse in only a millionth part of a millionth second, and send out only a few hundred light particles, also referred to as photons.
Those using the MicroTime 200, a time-resolved confocal fluorescence microscope which the company produces, can see individual molecules glow. When stimulated by a laser beam, fluorescent substances send out their characteristic light which is then recorded by a detection unit – photon by photon. If, for example, fluorescent molecules are attached to both ends of a protein, one can determine whether it is folded or unfolded and, with that, assess its biological potency.
”We have always been focusing on the single molecule“, Uwe Ortmann, sales manager, describes what PicoQuant is about. Founded on the Adlershof campus in 1996, they were initially specialised on the development of pulsed diode lasers and ultrafast electronic time measurement. Both are still being continously advanced and sold today. And they are the basis for the various fluorescencemicroscopy technologies that PicoQuant has in its portfolio.
A significant milestone in 2002 was the MicroTime 200, the first and since then continuously enhanced commercial confocal microscope. ”We have ultimate sensitivity with this device, and it can be easily combined with other techniques such as atomic force microscopy, as well as cryostates or ultraviolet light excitation“, Ortmann emphasises. Parametres such as polarisation, striking point, wavelength and arrival time after the laser pulse are stored for every photon striking the detector. Using the matching analysis software, the user can gather all the data and correlations that are of interest to him. ”Thanks to the pulsed stimulation laser and time-correlated single photon counting, we are able to combine all these methods in a single device“, says Ortmann.
This is of interest not only to biologists and medical researchers, but also to material scientists like the developers of solar cells, whose efficiency can be measured through fluorescence processes in semi-conductor materials. The highly sensitive measurement technology is currently valued primarily by customers from the academic sector. They come mainly from Europe, but also the US, where PicoQuant opened a small branch in 2008, and Asia. Developers work together closely with the customers and put together a suitable device for their measurement tasks from a range of laser, optics, and detection modules.
Being at the forefront of science is one of the advantages of the Adlershof site, says Ortmann. Moreover, the conditions regarding infrastructure and the availability of young talent are ideal for the steady growth of the company. They repeatedly have succeeded in finding well-trained and highly motivated employees who do not only develop hardware and software, but also host internationally renowned conferences and workshops in order to disseminate knowledge about the technology.
By Uta Deffke for Adlershof Special