IEM Seminar Series: One Photon at a Time – CMOS SPAD Imagers for Scientific Applications
Event details
| Date | 18.11.2025 |
| Hour | 17:15 › 18:00 |
| Speaker | Claudio Bruschini |
| Location | Online |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
| Event Language | English |
Abstract
The fabrication of the first CMOS single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) back in 2003 paved the way to a range of time-resolved photodetection applications based on single-photon detection, photon counting, and photon time-stamping. These sensors are capable, when implemented digitally, of megapixel formats and very precise timing resolutions of a few tens of picoseconds, with virtually noiseless read-out at very high speed. Moreover, masking and gating can be added on-chip, reaching nanosecond shutter windows. While light detection and ranging (LiDAR) represents perhaps the best-known commercial use of SPAD arrays, we have explored over the years a host of sensor architectures to advance fundamental and applied science, e.g. in high-energy/nuclear physics, biophotonics, and quantum imaging. SPAD cameras, where all-solid-state CMOS devices allow to co-integrate single-photon detection and advanced signal acquisition and processing, are thus displacing other detectors and imagers such as traditional photomultiplier tubes, progressively unlocking fascinating new (quantum) use cases.
Biography
Claudio Bruschini received the Laurea degree in physics from the University of Genova, Italy, in 1992, and the Ph.D. degree in applied sciences from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium, in 2002. He is currently a Scientist, Lecturer and Lab Deputy with EPFL’s Advanced Quantum Architecture Laboratory. His scientific interests have concentrated since 2003 on SPAD-based quantum photonic devices as well as applications thereof. He has authored or co-authored over 200 articles and conference proceedings and one book; he was the co-recipient of the 2012 European Photonics Innovation Award and of the Image Sensors Europe 2019 Award in the category "Best Academic Research Team", as well as Swiss Medtech Award 2016 finalist. He is an SPIE and IEEE Senior Member and co-founder of a spin-off commercialising selected AQUA lab SPAD designs.
The fabrication of the first CMOS single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) back in 2003 paved the way to a range of time-resolved photodetection applications based on single-photon detection, photon counting, and photon time-stamping. These sensors are capable, when implemented digitally, of megapixel formats and very precise timing resolutions of a few tens of picoseconds, with virtually noiseless read-out at very high speed. Moreover, masking and gating can be added on-chip, reaching nanosecond shutter windows. While light detection and ranging (LiDAR) represents perhaps the best-known commercial use of SPAD arrays, we have explored over the years a host of sensor architectures to advance fundamental and applied science, e.g. in high-energy/nuclear physics, biophotonics, and quantum imaging. SPAD cameras, where all-solid-state CMOS devices allow to co-integrate single-photon detection and advanced signal acquisition and processing, are thus displacing other detectors and imagers such as traditional photomultiplier tubes, progressively unlocking fascinating new (quantum) use cases.
Biography
Claudio Bruschini received the Laurea degree in physics from the University of Genova, Italy, in 1992, and the Ph.D. degree in applied sciences from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium, in 2002. He is currently a Scientist, Lecturer and Lab Deputy with EPFL’s Advanced Quantum Architecture Laboratory. His scientific interests have concentrated since 2003 on SPAD-based quantum photonic devices as well as applications thereof. He has authored or co-authored over 200 articles and conference proceedings and one book; he was the co-recipient of the 2012 European Photonics Innovation Award and of the Image Sensors Europe 2019 Award in the category "Best Academic Research Team", as well as Swiss Medtech Award 2016 finalist. He is an SPIE and IEEE Senior Member and co-founder of a spin-off commercialising selected AQUA lab SPAD designs.
Practical information
- General public
- Free