News and Press Releases

September 29, 2025

PicoQuant celebrates 30th Single Molecule Workshop in Berlin

More than 250 researchers from across the globe came together to share insights and explore emerging trends

“The 30th workshop was an inspiring platform – shaped by exceptional expertise, lively exchange, and young talent. We thank all participants. Together we are writing the next chapters in single molecule research.”

Rainer Erdmann, CEO of PicoQuant

PicoQuant successfully concluded the 30th International Workshop on Single Molecule Spectroscopy and Super-Resolution Microscopy in Berlin. From September 23–26, 2025, a record number of 250 participants joined to celebrate three decades of global scientific exchange.

The anniversary edition featured an outstanding program with Nobel Laureates Stefan W. Hell (Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences) and W.E. Moerner (Stanford University) among the speakers. Leading researchers shared the latest advances in FLIM, smFRET, FCS/FLCS, Single Molecule Localization Microscopy, as well as new approaches in machine learning and open-source analysis.

September 23, 2025

PicoQuant Invests in FluoBrick Solutions to Simplify Access to Single Molecule Research

Partnering to make advanced fluorescence techniques intuitive, affordable, and accessible

“I am really thrilled to build on the outcomes of my PhD project, to enable scientists to gain faster and deeper insights into complex protein interactions and single-particle detection without the need for significant investment or prior expertise in advanced fluorescence methods.” – Dr. Gabriel Moya, founder of FluoBrick Solutions

PicoQuant GmbH has invested in FluoBrick Solutions GmbH, a Berlin-based start-up dedicated to lowering the barriers to single-molecule techniques such as Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) and Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). The 2025 spin-off from LMU Munich develops ready-to-use instruments that help researchers study proteins and oligonucleotides at the single-molecule level, saving time and sample material while accelerating workflows.

August 27, 2025

High-Precision Photon Counting for Quantum Research

Intuitive setup, live FWHM analysis, and in-measurement adjustments

Accurate timing is essential when investigating quantum dots, NV centers, or entangled photon sources. A powerful combination of software and hardware enables precise g²(τ), lifetime, and coincidence measurements across a wide range of quantum optics experiments.

A powerful integration of software and hardware:

UniHarp DAQ Software
Offers an intuitive interface for photon correlation experiments, with real-time FWHM analysis and parameter adjustments during acquisition. Ideal for streamlining setup and analysis in g²(τ) and TCSPC applications.

Precise and Versatile Time Tagging and TCSPC Unit PicoHarp 330
A compact time tagger with 1 ps resolution, 680 ps dead time, and TTTR mode. Well-suited for HBT configurations and photon statistics analysis where space and channel count are limited.

High-Resolution Multichannel Time Tagging and TCSPC Unit HydraHarp 500
Designed for demanding quantum experiments, it features up to 16 input channels, low dead time, and synchronization options such as White Rabbit. A flexible solution for multi-channel correlation and time-tagging setups.

July 8, 2025

Why Should You Use The 3-Color Gain-Switched Picosecond Laser Prima

Turning Vision into Results

A recent study by researchers at Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (MERL) shows that it can. Using a technique called Doppler Single-Photon Lidar (SPL), they were able to simultaneously estimate distance and radial velocity with remarkable precision. Their setup worked even at high frame rates and in extremely low signal conditions, opening up new possibilities for motion-aware 3D imaging.

Behind this success was a careful choice of hardware. The team needed a laser source that could meet both the precision requirements and the flexibility needed for demanding SPL experiments. That's why they chose Prima.

Joshua Rapp, Principal Research Scientist at Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories and one of the authors of the recent study on Doppler single-photon lidar says:

 "We originally chose the Prima laser because it had one of the highest repetition rates for pulsed lasers that we could find."

Read more about the customer review about choosing the 3-color gain-switched picosecond laser Prima >

June 5, 2025

Boost Your TCSPC and Time Tagging Workflow with the Free DAQ Software UniHarp

Free Universal Data Acquisition Software

Advance your experiments in quantum optics, life sciences, and materials sciences with UniHarp – our free universal data acquisition software. Featuring real-time control, sleek visualization, and support for advanced analyses like g², FCS, time traces, and histograms, UniHarp offers precision and ease across all of our time-tagging devices. Streamline your workflow and focus on what matters: your results.

Supported Time Tagging and TCSPC Units (Selection):

• High-resolution multichannel event timer & TCSPC unit HydraHarp 500
• Precise and versatile event timer & TCSPC unit PicoHarp 330
• Scalable multichannel event timer & TCSPC unit MultiHarp 160

Learn more about DAQ Software UniHarp >