Methods for determining photodetector gain-voltage using optical signals

A particle analyzer comprising:

• a light source;
• a light detection system positioned in a housing of the particle analyzer, the light detection system comprising a plurality of photodetectors;
• and
• a processor comprising memory operably coupled to the processor wherein the memory comprises instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• apply a reference voltage to each photodetector in the light detection system;
• generate a reference data signal for each photodetector at the reference voltage;
• irradiate with a light source the photodetectors at a plurality of different applied voltages;
• generate output data signals for each photodetector at each of the plurality of different voltages;
• and
• calculate gain of the photodetectors at each of the plurality of different applied voltages based on the output data signals for each photodetector at each applied voltage and the reference data signal.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon for determining photodetector gain for a plurality of photodetectors in a light detection system of a particle analyzer the instructions comprising:

• algorithm for applying a reference voltage to each photodetector in the light detection system;
• algorithm for generating a reference data signal for each photodetector at the reference voltage;
• algorithm for irradiating with a light source the photodetectors at a plurality of different applied voltages;
• algorithm for generating output data signals for each photodetector at each of the plurality of different voltages;
• and
• algorithm for calculating gain of the photodetectors at each of the plurality of different applied voltages based on the output data signals for each photodetector at each applied voltage and the reference data signal.