We investigate the minimum acquisition time, expressed as the number of image frames, and the minimum number of absorbed photons per pixel required to achieve a predefined contrast resolution in a monochromatic, pixelated image acquisition system at low light intensities (from well below one photon, to several hundred photons per pixel and frame). Primarily we compare systems based on the pixels of the photon-number-resolving (PNR) type of detectors and detectors that discriminate, in a binary fashion, between zero and non-zero photon numbers (so-called click detectors). We find that our model can seamlessly interpolate between the two. We also model detectors with intrinsic PNR capabilities and integrating detectors with a simple saturation model, derive the probability of errors in assigning the correct intensity (or ‘gray level’) and finally discuss how the estimated levels, which need to be based on threshold levels due to the stochastic nature of the detected photon number,...

中文翻译：

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几光子探测器的对比度分辨率

我们研究了在单色，像素化图像采集系统中在低光照强度下（远低于一个光子，每个像素和每帧数百个光子）。首先，我们比较基于光子数解析（PNR）类型检测器和以二进制方式在零和非零光子数之间进行区分的检测器（所谓的喀嗒声检测器）的像素的系统。我们发现我们的模型可以在两者之间无缝插值。我们还为具有固有PNR功能的探测器建模，并通过简单的饱和度模型集成探测器，