Development of picosecond time resolution optical and X-ray streak cameras

Abstract

We describe the development of an optical and an X-ray streak camera with picosecond time resolution. The entire peripheral electronics and testing systems have been developed indigenously. Both the streak cameras provide ∼ 15 mm/1 ns streak rate with a sweep voltage of ∼ 1 kV amplitude and rise time of 1 ns. The time and spatial resolution of the optical streak camera have been found to be ∼ 17 ps and 100 µm respectively. The sweep pulse generator developed for this purpose provides a step pulse of rise time ≦1 ns and amplitude ∼ 2 kV. The laser diode used for testing the optical streak camera provides multiple pulsation when the pump current is increased beyond a critical threshold.