A versatile, low light level optical detection system: from time-integrated emission spectra to time-resolved, two-dimensional emission mapping

We describe a novel, low light level optical detection system that can be easily configured for various modes of operation. These include (i) time-integrated photoluminescence spectroscopy, (ii) transient, spectrally gated photoluminescence decay, (iii) time-windowed photoluminescence spectroscopy, (iv) two-dimensional, time-integrated photoluminescence mapping, and (v) time-resolved, two-dimensional photoluminescence mapping with a time resolution of ~100 ps. This new detection system is described technically and examples are given of how it can be used to study a variety of different recombination processes in semiconductors.