The Software
Screenshot of Becker-Hickl TCSPC Board Software
Software is used not only for
controlling the instrument but for performing subsequent data fitting and
analysis. In fact, time spent on data analysis often far exceeds the time spent
performing the actual TCSPC data acquisition. Analysis packages are available
from several independent sources and vary in their ability to perform certain
types of analyses, ease of use, and cost. Some that we have tried (either
30-day trial or free versions) are listed below. Note that our experience with
these is very limited at this point.
Most analysis programs do not
support direct import of Becker-Hickl
output data files, so in most cases an additional software step to convert to
an acceptable input format is required. Some Labview routines for converting Becker-Hickl output data to several
fitting program input formats are available for download here.
System Software
Becker-Hickl
SPCM software (supplied with TCSPC board)
Labview library for
custom instrument programming
Fitting and Analysis Software
CFS98: Center for Fluorescence Spectroscopy,
University of Maryland-Baltimore
Freeware
DOS-based
non-graphical interface
Analyses
include:
Decay
curve fitting (reconvolution) up to a five exponential model
Lifetime
distribution analysis (Gaussian, Lorentzian, Rectangular, or Skewed Gaussian)
Energy
transfer analysis (Gaussian, Lorentzian, or Rectangular distance distribution)
Energy
transfer to random receptor (one, two, or three dimensions)
Global
Analysis
Error
analysis (ASE, Support Plane, Monte Carlo, and Bootstrap)
Frequency
domain analyses also supported
Fluofit (ver. 3.1): Picoquant GMB
Can directly
import Becker-Hickl (.sdt) data
Very easy to
use graphical interface
Analyses
include:
Decay
curve fitting (reconvolution or tail-fitting) up to a four exponential model
(Marquardt-Levenberg or Simplex algorithms)
Lifetime/
Rate constant distribution analysis
Anisotropy
analysis
Error
analysis (ASE, Support Plane)
DAS (ver. 6): IBH
Very easy to
use graphical interface
Analyses
include (sold as individual components):
Decay curve fitting (reconvolution)
up to a four exponential model (unique algorithm)
Lifetime
distribution analysis
Energy
transfer analysis
Anisotropy
analysis
Global
Analysis
Error
analysis
GLOBALS: Laboratory for Fluorescent Dynamics,
University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana
Graphical
interface
Analyses
include:
Decay
curve fitting (reconvolution)
Rate
constant distribution analysis
Energy
transfer analysis
Stopped-flow
kinetic analysis
Anisotropy
analysis
Global
Analysis
Error
analysis
Frequency
domain analyses also supported
Last updated August
10, 2003