Ask the Experts: Specifying the Best Photon Counting Solution for Your Low-light Detection Needs

The choice of detector is critical to the success of the application. As with many things in engineering, however, there’s no one perfect detector for photon counting, just the optimal detector for the application at hand. 
May 5, 2026

Photon counting technology is critical for a variety of low-light applications such as positron emission tomography (PET) and microscopy. Systems can be built to detect levels from a few dozen photons to a single photon, but only when properly designed. The choice of detector is critical to the success of the application. As with many things in engineering, however, there’s no one perfect detector for photon counting, just the optimal detector for the application at hand. 

In this Ask the Expert with Hamamatsu Photonics, you will:

  • Learn whether photon counting is appropriate for your application—and whether you need a single-photon or multi-photon detector.
  • Discover the key photon-counting parameters: quantum efficiency, dark count rate, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
  • Understand how these parameters interact and which ones matter most for your application.
  • Explore the trade-offs across photon-counting detectors, including photomultiplier tubes, silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), and single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs).
  • Learn how to specify a system that sets your application up for success.

Download “Specifying the Best Photon Counting Solution for Your Low-light Detection Needs” today and take the first step toward better results.