Title: NIST Develops Quantum Flow Cytometer for Analyte Detection
NIST researchers have created a quantum flow cytometer that uses photon-number statistics to detect and analyze particles in a fluid stream. The device works by shining a light on the particles and measuring the scattered light using a single photon detector.
Key points:
– The flow cytometer directs light, particles, and scattered light along three different paths at oblique angles
– A single photon detector measures the scattered light’s photon-number statistics
– The detector generates a waveform with an amplitude representing photon statistics and an area proportional to the number of detected photons
– This quantum approach allows for more precise and sensitive detection compared to traditional methods
The technology could have applications in medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and other fields where detecting and analyzing particles is important.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/patents/quantum-flow-cytometer-0
Keywords: photon-number statistics, quantum flow cytometer, single photon detector
