Approaching an optimum time resolution for synchroscan streak-camera measurements with visible synchrotron light

Abstract

The optical beam diagnostics at the BESSY II light source in Berlin have been improved significantly over the last few years. In particular, the streak-camera system has been extended in precision and sensitivity to allow two-dimensional imaging in time and space for equilibrated and non-equilibrated bunch patterns. In this paper, we prove experimentally and theoretically that we have reached a sub-ps RMS total time resolution using filtered synchrotron light. Detailed simulations, including the different physical time-dispersion mechanisms, show the influence of various band-pass and edge wavelength filters on the resolution. The limits for unfiltered near-visible synchrotron radiation (white-light) and the band-pass filter to achieve optimal time resolution are derived as well, providing a basis for more advanced beam-dynamics studies in the near future.