Efficient toolbox for correlation of time tagged measurements

• Extracting correlations from time-series data is a wide-spread analysing method for large data sets, giving insights in temporal dynamics over several orders ofmagnitudes. However, the efficient correlation extraction and processing of big data is still a challenge widely encountered, independent of the application and research field. In optics, correlations among photon detection events can often yield insight into underlying physical processes. The recent advent of time-tagging techniques for photon detection events with timing resolution compa-rable to the coherence and lifetimes of quantum emitters offers an alternative to the well established start-stop histograms obtained directly with correlation electronics. Here we introduce a versatile toolbox for analysis of time tagged data, enabling extraction of a wide range of information from one measurement. A user of our software can specify the desired analysis method using a combination of graphical and traditional programming. Automatically selecting an appropriate algorithm, a just-in-time compiler combines these two inputs into an intermediate representation, which is then compiled into assembly code optimized for the target computer’s architecture. This procedure optimizes for fast analysis of large time tag files at the cost of upfront compilation time while maintaining flexibility. Our program finds uses in single molecule, LIDAR, quantum entanglement and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy measurements, as well as quantum key distribution protocols in which data from remote detectors needs to be synchronized and correlated. Our software is optimized and modular, offering high processing speed and extensibility.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Data- och informationsvetenskap -- Programvaruteknik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Computer and Information Sciences -- Software Engineering (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Optik och fotonik

Optics and Photonics

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)