Photon Detection Efficiency (PDE) Calculator
Calculate PDE for SiPMs and other photodetectors
Number of photons incident on detector
Number of photons detected
How to Use This Calculator
Enter Incident Photons
Enter the total number of photons incident on the detector during measurement.
Enter Detected Photons
Enter the number of photons detected (based on detector counts corrected for dark counts if necessary).
Get PDE
Click calculate to compute PDE. The result is shown as a percentage.
Formula
PDE (%) = (Ndet / Nin) × 100
Where:
- Nin = Number of incident photons
- Ndet = Number of detected photons
Note: Real PDE depends on wavelength, bias voltage (overvoltage), temperature, fill-factor, quantum efficiency, and microcell triggering probability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PDE?
Photon Detection Efficiency (PDE) is the ratio of detected to incident photons, expressed as a percentage. It indicates how efficiently a detector converts incoming photons into measurable signals.
What affects PDE in SiPMs?
PDE depends on fill factor, quantum efficiency, avalanche triggering probability, wavelength, overvoltage, and temperature. Manufacturers provide PDE curves versus wavelength and bias.
How do I handle dark counts?
Subtract dark counts (counts with light off) from detected counts to estimate true detected photons before calculating PDE.
Is PDE the same as quantum efficiency?
Quantum efficiency is the probability that an incident photon generates a charge carrier. PDE includes additional factors like fill factor and triggering probability, so PDE ≤ QE.