{"id":{"repo_id":"heriot-watt","oai_identifier":"oai:ros.hw.ac.uk:10399/2475"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/heriot-watt/oai:ros.hw.ac.uk:10399/2475","repository":{"repo_id":"heriot-watt","name":"Heriot-Watt University","base_url":"https://www.ros.hw.ac.uk/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Long-range depth profiling based on time-correlated single-photon counting","abstract":"Single-photon detection technologies are of high relevance to light detection and ranging (LiDAR) applications for the range resolution and surface profiling of distant target objects. Modern single-photon detectors offer high quantum efficiencies and small timing jitters in the order of tens of ps, allowing for the rapid acquisition of high-resolution time-of-flight information with eye-safe illumination powers. In time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC), every detection event is treated as an independent measurement of time. The build-up of photon statistics over many measurement cycles allows for time-of-flight measurements with a precision that can be superior to the system’s single-shot timing uncertainty. This Thesis presents work on a scanning, long-range depth profiler based on TCSPC. Its design is discussed and a comprehensive set of performance metrics is evaluated, serving as the base for a theoretical performance model. Beside measurements at an illumination wavelength of 842 nm, the operation of the system at 1.56 m is also described. A special focus is made on the implementation and evaluation of different single-photon detection modules, including a novel, resonant-cavity-enhanced single-photon avalanche diode. A new data acquisition mode for TCSPC applications was developed to facilitate performance evaluation. Depth uncertainties of 250 m were achieved with the system at 320 m stand-off distance, and a pattern matching scheme was implemented to acquire unambiguous photon-counting depth images at a record-breaking target distance of 4.4 km while maintaining eye-safe illumination levels. Advanced return analysis algorithms were used to demonstrate the automatic resolution of multiple target surfaces.","abstract_html":"Single-photon detection technologies are of high relevance to light detection and ranging (LiDAR) applications for the range resolution and surface profiling of distant target objects. Modern single-photon detectors offer high quantum efficiencies and small timing jitters in the order of tens of ps, allowing for the rapid acquisition of high-resolution time-of-flight information with eye-safe illumination powers. In time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC), every detection event is treated as an independent measurement of time. The build-up of photon statistics over many measurement cycles allows for time-of-flight measurements with a precision that can be superior to the system’s single-shot timing uncertainty. This Thesis presents work on a scanning, long-range depth profiler based on TCSPC. Its design is discussed and a comprehensive set of performance metrics is evaluated, serving as the base for a theoretical performance model. Beside measurements at an illumination wavelength of 842 nm, the operation of the system at 1.56 m is also described. A special focus is made on the implementation and evaluation of different single-photon detection modules, including a novel, resonant-cavity-enhanced single-photon avalanche diode. A new data acquisition mode for TCSPC applications was developed to facilitate performance evaluation. Depth uncertainties of 250 m were achieved with the system at 320 m stand-off distance, and a pattern matching scheme was implemented to acquire unambiguous photon-counting depth images at a record-breaking target distance of 4.4 km while maintaining eye-safe illumination levels. Advanced return analysis algorithms were used to demonstrate the automatic resolution of multiple target surfaces.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Krichel, Nils Johannes"],"institution":"Heriot-Watt University","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Buller, Professor Gerald"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2011,"date_issued":"2011-10","date_published":"2011-10","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:31:05Z","subjects":[],"languages":["en"],"rights":["All items in ROS are protected by the Creative Commons copyright license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/scotland/), with some rights reserved."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10399/2475","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Buller, Professor Gerald"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Krichel, Nils Johannes"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2012-04-24T09:51:03Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2012-04-24T09:51:03Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2011-10"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Heriot-Watt University","Engineering and Physical Sciences"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["All items in ROS are protected by the Creative Commons copyright license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/scotland/), with some rights reserved."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10399/2475"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Single-photon detection technologies are of high relevance to light detection and ranging (LiDAR) applications for the range resolution and surface profiling of distant target objects. Modern single-photon detectors offer high quantum efficiencies and small timing jitters in the order of tens of ps, allowing for the rapid acquisition of high-resolution time-of-flight information with eye-safe illumination powers. In time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC), every detection event is treated as an independent measurement of time. The build-up of photon statistics over many measurement cycles allows for time-of-flight measurements with a precision that can be superior to the system’s single-shot timing uncertainty. This Thesis presents work on a scanning, long-range depth profiler based on TCSPC. Its design is discussed and a comprehensive set of performance metrics is evaluated, serving as the base for a theoretical performance model. Beside measurements at an illumination wavelength of 842 nm, the operation of the system at 1.56 m is also described. A special focus is made on the implementation and evaluation of different single-photon detection modules, including a novel, resonant-cavity-enhanced single-photon avalanche diode. A new data acquisition mode for TCSPC applications was developed to facilitate performance evaluation. Depth uncertainties of 250 m were achieved with the system at 320 m stand-off distance, and a pattern matching scheme was implemented to acquire unambiguous photon-counting depth images at a record-breaking target distance of 4.4 km while maintaining eye-safe illumination levels. Advanced return analysis algorithms were used to demonstrate the automatic resolution of multiple target surfaces."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Long-range depth profiling based on time-correlated single-photon counting"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Buller, Professor Gerald"],"dc:creator":["Krichel, Nils Johannes"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2012-04-24T09:51:03Z"],"dc:date.available":["2012-04-24T09:51:03Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2011-10"],"dc:description.abstract":["Single-photon detection technologies are of high relevance to light detection and ranging (LiDAR) applications for the range resolution and surface profiling of distant target objects. Modern single-photon detectors offer high quantum efficiencies and small timing jitters in the order of tens of ps, allowing for the rapid acquisition of high-resolution time-of-flight information with eye-safe illumination powers. In time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC), every detection event is treated as an independent measurement of time. The build-up of photon statistics over many measurement cycles allows for time-of-flight measurements with a precision that can be superior to the system’s single-shot timing uncertainty. This Thesis presents work on a scanning, long-range depth profiler based on TCSPC. Its design is discussed and a comprehensive set of performance metrics is evaluated, serving as the base for a theoretical performance model. Beside measurements at an illumination wavelength of 842 nm, the operation of the system at 1.56 m is also described. A special focus is made on the implementation and evaluation of different single-photon detection modules, including a novel, resonant-cavity-enhanced single-photon avalanche diode. A new data acquisition mode for TCSPC applications was developed to facilitate performance evaluation. Depth uncertainties of 250 m were achieved with the system at 320 m stand-off distance, and a pattern matching scheme was implemented to acquire unambiguous photon-counting depth images at a record-breaking target distance of 4.4 km while maintaining eye-safe illumination levels. Advanced return analysis algorithms were used to demonstrate the automatic resolution of multiple target surfaces."],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10399/2475"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher":["Heriot-Watt University","Engineering and Physical Sciences"],"dc:rights":["All items in ROS are protected by the Creative Commons copyright license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/scotland/), with some rights reserved."],"dc:title":["Long-range depth profiling based on time-correlated single-photon counting"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:31:05Z"}