Methods and device for detecting single photons from a sample comprising at least one emitter

A method for detecting single photons from a sample comprising at least one emitter, wherein light pulses separated by a pulse period are generated by a light source to trigger the at least one emitter to emit photons, and wherein the emitted photons are detected by an acquisition system comprising a detector, wherein the acquisition system comprises an active state, in which the acquisition system is able to detect and correctly record photons, an inactive state in which the acquisition system is unable to detect photons and optionally a twilighting state in which the acquisition system is able to detect photons but unable to correctly record the photons, wherein the acquisition system remains in the inactive state or the twilighting state for a dead time after each detection of a photon, wherein a repetition rate of the light pulses is adjusted dependent on the dead time of the acquisition system, and an expected emittance lifetime of the at least one emitter, wherein a measured count rate of the single photons detected by the acquisition system is determined, wherein a systematic error introduced by the emission of at least a second photon per light pulse after detecting a first photon is corrected, yielding a corrected count rate.