EP0004729A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus and method for recording high-speed repetitive optical phenomena
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1979-03-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 1999-03-21
Abstract
Abstract A record is obtained of repetitive optical phenomena having durations in the picosecond or subpicosecond range by synchronising the deflection of the electron image in an electron-optical streaking image tube (10) with the repetition rate of a pulse train from a continuous wave mode-locked laser (20, 21) which supplies such pulses to the tube. Synchronisation may be effected by supplying a reference frequency signal both to the laser (21) and to the deflection electrodes (15) in the image tube (10). The signal applied to the deflection electrodes (15) may comprise a synchronised sinusoidal voltage signal and a slowly varying bias voltage signal. An optical multichannel analyser may be used at the output of the image tube (10), linked to an oscilloscope or pen recorder.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Joseph Bradley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:23
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04F; G04F13/00; G04F13/02; G04F13/026; G03; G03B; G03B39/00; G03B39/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for obtaining a record of repetitive optical phenomena having durations in the picosecond or sub-picosecond range, comprising an image tube arranged to receive repetitive pulse-form images and convert them to electron images, electron deflecting means to deflect the electrons in their passage through the tube, and a continuous wave mode-locked laser arranged to generate a repetitive series of pulses, characterised by synchronising means arranged to synchronise the deflection of the electron image in the tube with the repetition rate of the pulse train from the continuous wave mode-locked laser.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for obtaining a record of repetitive optical phenomena having durations in the picosecond or sub-picosecond range, comprising an image tube arranged to receive repetitive pulse-form images and convert them to electron images, electron deflecting means to deflect the electrons in their passage through the tube, and a continuous wave mode-locked laser arranged to generate a repetitive series of pulses, characterised by synchronising means arranged to synchronise the deflection of the electron image in the tube with the repetition rate of the pulse train from the continuous wave mode-locked laser.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the synchronising means comprises a signal generator arranged to provide a reference frequency signal both to the laser and to said electron deflecting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, which includes an acousto-optic modulator with which the laser is actively mode-locked and which is triggered by the reference frequency signal from the signal generator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the synchronising means comprises a photodetector arranged to receive the pulse train, signal generator means connected to said electron deflecting means, and frequency locking means synchronising the signal generator means with the photodetector output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the laser comprises a synchronously pumped mode-locked continuous wave dye laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the laser comprises mirrors carried on piezoelectric elements arranged to be connected to a voltage source for mechanical scanning movement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, which includes means for supplying to said electron deflecting means a sinusoidal voltage signal synchronised with the laser pulse train, and a slowly varying bias voltage signal to scan the electron image across the tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the image tube includes an apertured disc on which the streak images impinge, the disc having one or more slits perpendicular to the axis of the image tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, which includes an optical multichannel anaiyser at the output end of the image tube.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of obtaining a record of repetitive optical phenomena having durations in the picosecond or sub-picosecond range in which a continuous wave mode-locked laser generates a repetitive series of pulses which are fed to a streaking image tube, characterised in that the streaking image tube is operated in a continuous scanning mode with the streak deflecting voltage driven synchronously at the repetition frequency of the pulse train from the laser.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of obtaining a record of repetitive optical phenomena having durations in the picosecond or sub-picosecond range in which a continuous wave mode-locked laser generates a repetitive series of pulses which are fed to a streaking image tube, characterised in that the streaking image tube is operated in a continuous scanning mode with the streak deflecting voltage driven synchronously at the repetition frequency of the pulse train from the laser.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim lO, which includes supplying to electron deflecting means in the tube both a sinusoidal voltage synchronised with the pulse train and also a bias voltage to scan the electron image across the tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 11, in which the sinusoidal voltage is at a frequency of the order of hundreds of MHz and the bias voltage is at a frequency in the kilohertz range.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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