Wavelength dispersion in fiber optical detection of time-resolved fluorescence

Fiber optical recorded time-resolved fluorescence emission spectra distorted by wavelength dispersion have been investigated. Calculated and measured transit times for long fibers (50 m) are in good agreement. A simple correction algorithm was proposed resulting in time-resolved spectra of second-order, bilinear structure. Two different deconvolution algorithms using either an entire spectrum or single fluorescence decay curves from different wavelengths were used to calculate the lifetimes of rhodamine B and anthracene.