Photodiode Array (PDA) Detectors

PDA sensors are dedicated to spectroscopy applications and experiments that require very large dynamic range and excellent linearity response. Absorbance-type applications and instrumentation, such as UV Detectors for HPLC or Peptide synthesis analyzers, or VIS colorimeters, take full advantage of the PDA sensor performance, its very large pixel full well and its moderate readout noise.

To utilize the large full well made available by these sensors, strong light sources and optimized signal collection and layout are required. Deuterium lamps for UV absorbance and Xenon flash lamps for UV-VIS measurements are two solid options.

PDA sensors are offered in several versions of height, width, pixel pitch and number of pixels, to adapt to the spectrometer platforms they will be configured with. Newer generations of PDA detectors offer smoother and higher QE response in the UV and UV-VIS regions, with enhanced full well and lower readout noise for even larger dynamic range performance.

It is to be noted that PDA detectors remain susceptible to burn-in when exposed to high intensity UV light, a phenomenon that slightly reduces the total available full well over time, but can be easily factored out by doing dark signal subtraction.

tec5USA has developed exclusive electronics multiplexer solutions to operate up to 8 PDA spectrometers, such as our MMS miniature devices, in parallel, with a single electronics. This unique architecture allows, for example, both Reference and Sample to be acquired in a reflectometer setup for lamp correction, or for multiple samples to be collected at the same time in a multi-channel acquisition, high-throughput apparatus.

Please consult with our Spectroscopy team at tec5USA to discuss your application and explore the PDA sensor options available in terms of budget, desired dynamic range, signal collection, spectral range, sensitivity, frame rate, expose times, etc…