Abstract
Light in flight was captured by a single shot of a newly developed backside-illuminated multi-collection-gate image sensor at a frame interval of 10 ns without high-speed gating devices such as a streak camera or post data processes. This paper reports the achievement and further evolution of the image sensor toward the theoretical temporal resolution limit of 11.1 ps derived by the authors. The theoretical analysis revealed the conditions to minimize the temporal resolution. Simulations show that the image sensor designed following the specified conditions and fabricated by existing technology will achieve a frame interval of 50 ps. The sensor, 200 times faster than our latest sensor will innovate advanced analytical apparatuses using time-of-flight or lifetime measurements, such as imaging TOF-MS, FLIM, pulse neutron tomography, PET, LIDAR, and more, beyond these known applications.
Highlights
Since the Abramson’s holographic “Light-in-Flight imaging” in 1978 [1], various technologies have been created to address this attractive topic
The theoretical analysis may appear irrelevant to practical high-speed imaging technology, since the record frame interval of our new image sensor, 10 ns, is still 1000 times longer than the theoretical temporal resolution limit of 11.1 ps
Successful light-in-flight imaging will highlight the significance of the theoretical analysis and accelerate development of such ultra-high-speed image sensors
Summary
High-resolution images of flying light are captured by a single shot with a silicon image sensor for the first time. The theoretical analysis may appear irrelevant to practical high-speed imaging technology, since the record frame interval of our new image sensor, 10 ns, is still 1000 times longer than the theoretical temporal resolution limit of 11.1 ps. By taking these conditions into account, the minimum temporal resolution might be improved up to 50 ps with currently available technologies at the cost of the fill factor [13] It took 27 years to increase the frame rate from 4500 fps of historic KODAK EKTAPRO HS4540 developed by Etoh in 1991 [17] to 100 Mfps (equivalent to 10 ns). Successful light-in-flight imaging will highlight the significance of the theoretical analysis and accelerate development of such ultra-high-speed image sensors. 100% fill factor, by introducing a convex silicon pyramid array
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