Streak camera operable with low deflection voltage

Claim 1

A streak camera for detecting a light signal representing optical events occurring in ultra-short time intervals, comprising: a photocathode for emitting photoelectrons as an electron stream upon incidence of the light signal thereto; a first accelerating electrode for accelerating the electron stream emitted from said photocathode; a focusing electrode comprising at least one electrode element for focusing the accelerated electron stream; an anode for electrostatically attracting the focused electron stream; a traveling wave deflector having a deflecting electrode for deflecting the electron stream transmitted through said anode with a deflection voltage having a phase velocity; a deflection circuit for controlling the deflection voltage to be applied to said deflecting electrode of said deflector 34; an electron stream detector for detecting the electron stream deflected by said deflector; and a voltage control unit for controlling voltages to be applied to said photocathode, said accelerating electrode, said focusing electrode, said anode and said electron stream detector, thereby controlling a potential distribution in a photoelectron transit path, wherein said voltage control unit carrys out a voltage supply operation such that said anode is supplied with a positive voltage below 5 KV with respect to a voltage to be applied to said photocathode, and said electrode element of said focusing electrode is kept at the highest positive potential among said photocathode, said accelerating electrode, said focusing electrode and said anode.