LUMINESCENCE LIFETIME MEASUREMENTS - ELIMINATION OF PHOTOTUBE TIME SHIFTS WITH THE PHASE PLANE METHOD

An adaptation of the phase plane (PP) method of luminescence lifetime deconvolution is described, which eliminates wavelength-dependent time shifts by using a reference emitter. Derivative and integral PP methods are described and tested with both experimental and synthetic data. Data on the accuracy and precision of the methods for different noise levels, reference lifetimes, and fitting regions are presented. Both methods are accurate and precise over a wide range of sample and reference lifetimes, although the integral approach is somewhat more accurate and computationally faster. Selection of the optimum reference lifetime is discussed.