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A Narrow Optical Pulse Emitter Based on LED: NOPELED
Diego Real1, David Calvo1, Antonio Díaz2
1IFIC-Instituto de Física Corpuscular, CSIC-Universitat de València, c/Catedrático José Beltrán, 2, 46980 Paterna, Spain.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 14, 2022
Summary
NOPELED is a low-cost, remotely operated LED light source producing short optical pulses (<7 ns FWHM). It is ideal for particle physics experiments and other applications requiring precise light pulse generation.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Instrumentation
- Optoelectronics
Background:
- Short optical pulses are crucial for particle physics experiments, serving as calibration tools and to mimic particle-induced light.
- Existing light sources may not meet the specific requirements for pulse duration, cost, or remote operation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize NOPELED, a novel LED-based light source for generating short optical pulses.
- To demonstrate its suitability for particle physics and other scientific applications.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) to generate optical pulses with fast rise times (<3 ns) and narrow pulse widths (<7 ns FWHM).
- Characterized multiple LED models across a wavelength range of 405–532 nm.
- Demonstrated control over pulse intensity and frequency, with remote operation capabilities.
Main Results:
- Achieved short optical pulses with typical rise times under 3 ns and FWHM below 7 ns.
- Characterized performance across various LED models and wavelengths (405–532 nm).
- Confirmed controllable intensity and frequency, alongside remote operation.
Conclusions:
- NOPELED offers a cost-effective and versatile solution for generating short optical pulses.
- Its capabilities make it suitable for diverse applications, including astrophysical neutrino detectors, PET scanners, and fluorescence studies.

