HIGH RESOLUTION
Gen II and Gen III image intensifiers offering the world’s highest resolution and sensitivity in the UV, visible or near infrared
IN-SITU FOCUS ADJUSTMENT
outer-body focus ring adjusts the internal relay optics without altering total length
COMPACT DESIGN
easily fits within your imaging or spectroscopy setup, with a super-compact 18mm version also available
Description
The TRiCATT is a compact lens-coupled image intensifier for scientific and industrial applications that require:
– Low-light level imaging
– Ultra-short exposures through fast gating
– Frequency-domain imaging using lock-in detection
Any camera with C-mount and a 1/2″, 2/3″, or 1″ image sensor is compatible with the TRiCATT. You can find the right TRiCATT for your camera with our interactive calculator.
Applications
Time-resolved imaging and spectroscopy
Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV)
Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF)
Diffuse Optical Tomography (DOT)
Time-gated luminescence
Fluorescence Lifetime-Imaging
Microscopy (FLIM)
Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)
Oxygen imaging
Viscosity imaging
Single-molecule imaging
Bio- and chemiluminescence imaging
Solar PV and LED characterization
Combustion research
Time-gated Raman
Plasma physics
X-ray Imaging
Features
Small gate widths
Gate width down to less than 3 ns (FWHM) with minimal jitter.
High gate repetition widths
Up to 300 kHz / 2.5 MHz burst. 1Mhz Optional
Overexposure Protection
User-definable current limitation and optional shutter.
Easy Coupling
Efficient lens coupling to any CCD and CMOS camera (up to 500 fps) with C-mount input and output.
Relay Lens
The high quality relay lens transfers the intensified image to the image sensor of the attached camera very efficiently and without losses in resolution. If required we can provide the 0.5x relay lens with a back focal distance of 13 mm.
Camera
Along with the Image Intensifier TRiCATT Lambert Instruments can deliver different types of CCD and CMOS cameras. If you already have a camera, you can use our interactive calculator to determine which intensifier size and relay optics are best suited for your setup.
Match my camera
The relay optics of HiCATT and TRiCATT project the output of the image intensifier onto the sensor of your camera. This calculator helps you determine the optimal configuration of image intensifer diameter and relay optics for your camera and application.
Image Intensifiers
An image intensifier boosts the intensity of the incoming light. By converting photons to electrons and back to photons, the light intensity can be increased significantly. Scroll down for more information about how this works.
Another feature of an image intensifier is that it can act as an ultra-fast shutter. The photocathode can be switched between on and off in a matter of nanoseconds.
Photocathodes
The photocathode is the entrance of the image intensifier. This is where the incoming photons are converted to electrons. The quantum efficiency of the photocathode material specifies how efficient this conversion is for each wavelength.
Phosphors
The output of the image intensifier contains a layer of phosphorescent material. Upon impact of an electron, the phosphor screen will emit light. Depending on the type of phosphor, the intensity of the emitted light will decrease faster.
Specifications and Options
TRiCATT 25
Image intensifier: 25 mm image intensifier. Gated or modulated. P43 phosphor
Minimum gate time: 3 ns, 40 ns or 50 ns
Gate repetition rate*: 100 kHz, 300 kHz or 1 MHz
Relay optics**: 1:1 or 1.7:1 Fixed aperture
Input mount: F-mount and C-mount
Output mount: F-mount and C-mount
Mechanical shutter: Optional
Mounting plate: Optional
TRiCATT 18
Image intensifier: 18 mm image intensifier. Gated or modulated. P43 phosphor
Minimum gate time: 3 ns, 40 ns or 50 ns
Gate repetition rate*: 100 kHz, 300 kHz or 1 MHz
Relay optics**: 1:1 Fixed aperture
Input mount: F-mount and C-mount
Output mount: F-mount and C-mount
Mechanical shutter: Optional
Mounting plate: Optional
TRiCATT 18C
Image intensifier: 18 mm image intensifier. Gated or modulated. P43 phosphor
Minimum gate time: 3 ns, 40 ns or 50 ns
Gate repetition rate*: 100 kHz, 300 kHz or 1 MHz
Relay optics**: 1:1 Variable aperture
Input mount: C-mount
Output mount: C-mount
Mechanical shutter: Custom design upon request
Mounting plate: Optional
Gating Specifications
Standard Gating
Width range: 40 ns – 10 s
Resulting min. pulse width (increments): 40 ns (20ns)
Pulse repetition rate: < 10 MHz
Delay jitter (width): ± 10 ns (± 250 ps)
Insertion delay: 100 ns
Fast Gating
Width range: < 3 ns – 10 s
Resulting min. pulse width (increments): < 3 ns (10 ps)
Pulse repetition rate: < 16 MHz
Delay jitter (width): < 35 ps (< 35 ps)
Insertion delay: 20 ns
Trigger input: Programmable trigger level, divider and bursts (m out of n triggers)
Control Units
The control unit contains a micro-controller, a high voltage power supply and a RF (Radio Frequency) amplifier. The control unit has a low voltage input to receive the external modulation signal. It amplifies this signal and biases it with a variable DC photocathode voltage. The control unit offers control of the MCP voltage for setting the image intensifier gain. The control unit also monitors the light output, and switches off the image intensifier when its light output becomes too high. The control unit supports modulation frequencies up to 120 MHz.
| Manual Gain Controller | Gain Control | Gate Control | Gate Generator | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gain control | ✔ | |||
| Anode current limiter | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Shutter control | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Gain control | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Gate control | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Internal trigger generator | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Programmable gate | ✔ |
Options
Optional: Signal Generator
Instead of using an external modulation signal generator, we offer a built-in modulation signal generator as part of the control unit/power supply for frequencies up to 120 MHz.
Optional: TRiCAM
As an alternative to the lens-coupled ICCD camera (TRiCATT + CCD), we offer an ICCD camera in which the image intensifier is fiber-optically coupled to the sensor. This is the TRiCAM. This modulated intensified CCD camera is very compact and has a significantly higher gain than the lens-coupled combination as a result of the more efficient and compact fiber coupling.
Request More Information
Lambert Instruments BV
Leonard Springerlaan 19
9727 KB Groningen
The Netherlands
User Publications
Researchers around the world use the TRiCATT in their studies. Opposite is an overview of the most recent publications describing research that was done using a TRiCATT .
For a complete overview of applications, please visit our applications pages.
