Comparison of the maximum entropy and exponential series methods for the recovery of distributions of lifetimes from fluorescence lifetime data

The maximum entropy method and a new more robust exponential series method are described and tested for the recovery of underlying fluorescence lifetime distributions derived from digital fluorescence data. Both real and simulated data are used in this study. Except for the resolution of single-lifetime systems, it is found that the two methods are similar in their resolving powers. The problem of differentiating between the case of a continuous distribution and three discrete components is discussed. The effects of radio-frequency noise, background subtraction, time base, and data precision on the recovery of distributions are described.