1. Optoelectronics & Microsystems Lab
Politecnico di Milano, Dip. Elettronica e Informazione, Milano, Italy

2. STAFF COVA, S. Full Professor GHIONI, M. Full Professor
ZAPPA, F. Associate Professor
GIUDICE, A. Post-Doc Research Associate
RECH, I. Post-Doc Research Associate
LABANCA, I. Research Associate
GALLIVANONI, A. Research Associate
TISA, S. Ph.D. Student
RESTELLI, A. Ph.D. Student
TOSI, A. Ph.D. Student
GULINATTI, A. Ph.D. Student

3. Core Know-How Microelectronic Detectors and Circuits
Measurement Techniques and Instrumentation
for detecting and measuring optical signals
with ultra-high sensitivity
and picosecond resolution

4. Recent Achievement
Ultrasensitive CE-Microchip apparatus for DNA fragment separation collaboration with M. Chiari, CNR Inst. of Chemistry and Molecular Recognition, Milano
Reference:
I. Rech, A. Restelli, S. Cova, M. Ghioni, M. Chiari, ad M. Cretich,
“Microelectronic Photosensors for Genetic Diagnostic Microsystems”
Journal of Sensors and Actuators – B , in press 2004

5. Chip Electrophoresis
Sample
Buffer
Waste
Injection
Separation

6. Detection limit (@ S/N=3) : 1pM
CE Separation in glass microchip
run buffer: TAPS-TRIS 100mM pH 8.5.
Sample : 23 mer oligonucleotide labelled with CY 5
Detection limit S/N=3) : 1pM
corresponds to < 30 molecules in the injection volume of 50pL

7. Looking inside the apparatus...
Compact & low-cost set-up with:
Fully automated operation
Laser diode excitation of fluorescence
Controlled chip temperature
Dual wavelength detection
Dual HV power supply (0-5kV)
Confocal optical scheme
Remote control
Problem debug via internet

8. Looking the apparatus at work in the lab...

9. Recent Achievement
Microelectronic Single-Photon Detector for studies on Single-Molecule Dynamics
collaboration with X. Sunney Xie, Harvard University, Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Reference:
H. Yang, G. Luo, P. Karnchanaphanurach, T.M. Louie, I. Rech, S.Cova, L. Xun, and X. Sunney Xie,
“Single-Molecule Protein Dynamics on Multiple Time Scales Probed by Electron Transfer”, SCIENCE, Oct.10, 2003, Vol.302,

10. even the best commercially available Photon Counting Modules
Xie’s idea: Measuring the delay of the fluorescence photon with respect to the laser excitation with picosecond-resolution, good efficiency and low-noise makes possible to probe the Single-Molecule Protein Dynamics by means of a correlation analysis of the delay fluctuations in real time
However:
even the best commercially available Photon Counting Modules
DO NOT provide adequate performance!

11. SPTM Single Photon Timing Module for Single-Molecule Experiments
FWHM=60ps
High Time-resolution: 60ps
Low Dark Counts: down to 5 c/s
Quantum Detection Efficiency: 500nm
Single power supply +15V
Controlled Temperature (Peltier cell)
Software controlled settings
RS-232 data transmission

12. Recent Achievement
Non-invasive testing of ULSI Circuits by Ultrasensitive Picosecond Time-Resolved Luminescence Measurements collaboration with IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY
Reference:
Stellari F., Zappa F., Cova S., Porta C., Tsang J.C.,
"High-Speed CMOS Circuit Testing by 50ps Time-Resolved Luminescence Measurements"
IEEE Trans. Electron Devices, 48, (2001)

13. Recent Achievement
Photon-Counting Quadrant Detectors and Electronics for Adaptive Optics Systems of Advanced Telescopes collaboration with D.Bonaccini, ESO European Southern Observatory, Garching, D and R. Biasi, Microgate, Bolzano, I
Reference:
development of the STRAP (System for Tip-tilt Removal with Avalanche Photodiodes) for the VLT Observatory, Cerro Paranal, Chile