Device for measuring extremely diminished intensity of light

Claim 3

A device for measuring an extremely diminished intensity of light as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stimulus signal source is a dye laser oscillator. .Iadd.

Claim 4

A device for measuring an extremely diminished intensity of light comprising: a stimulus signal source which stimulates an object being measured so as to repetitively emit light pulses at predetermined timing intervals; a streaking tube including a photoelectric layer for converting said repetitive light pulses to corresponding electric signals; a deflection electrode for generating a deflection electric field for deflecting a single photoelectron; first and second adjacent parallel micro-channel-plates each having an input side, an output side and micro-channels extending from said input side to said output side, the axis of each of the micro-channels in said first plate making an acute angle at the input side thereof with a main axis of said first and second micro-channel-plates oriented in a direction perpendicular to the input and output sides thereof, the axes of corresponding micro-channels of said first and second micro-channel plates intersecting at a point, said micro-channel plates multiplying said single photoelectron so as to generate a plurality of electrons at the output thereof, the distribution of said electrons having a narrow half-value centered at a predetermined frequency of occurrence; a phosphor layer stimulated by electrons at the output of said micro-channel-plates, a spot having approximately the same brightness for each of said single photoelectrons being formed on the surface of said phosphor layer whereby the brightness of said spot corresponds to the number of multiplied electrons; a deflection circuit for applying, to said deflection electrode, a sweeping voltage synchronized with the stimulating signal issued from said stimulus signal source; and detecting means for detecting the brightness of said spot on the phosphor layer of said streaking tube by means of photoelectric conversion, said detecting means being a television imaging device. .Iaddend. .Iadd.4. A device for measuring an extremely diminished intensity of light as claimed in claim 3 which further comprises a third micro-channel-plate, adjacent and parallel to said second micro-channel-plate, having an input side, an output side and micro-channels extending from said input to said output side, the axes of corresponding micro-channels of said second and third micro-channel-plate intersecting at a point. .Iaddend. .Iadd.5. A device for measuring an extremely diminished intensity of light as claimed in claim 3 wherein the axes of said micro-channel plates are straight lines. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. A device for measuring an extremely diminished intensity of light as claimed in claim 4 wherein the axes of said micro-channel plates are straight lines. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. A device for measuring an extremely diminished intensity of light comprising: a stimulus signal source which stimulates an object being measured so as to repetitively emit light pulses at predetermined timing intervals; a streaking tube including a photoelectric layer for converting said repetitive light pulses to corresponding electric signals; a deflection electrode for generating a deflection electric field for deflecting a single photoelectron; at least one micro-channel-plate for multiplying said single photoelectron so as to generate a plurality of electrons at the output thereof, the distribution of said electrons having a half-value width of about 6×10 5 centered at 1.5×10 6 ; and a phosphor layer stimulated by electrons at the output of said at least one micro-channel-plate, a spot having approximately the same brightness for each of said single photoelectrons being formed on the surface of said phosphor layer whereby the brightness of said spot corresponds to the number of multiplied electrons; a deflection circuit for applying, to said deflection electrode, a sweeping voltage synchronized with the stimulating signal issued from said stimulus signal source; and detecting means for detecting the brightness of said spot on the phosphor layer of said streaking tube by means of photoelectric conversion, said

Claim 5

detecting means being a television imaging device. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. A device for measuring an extremely diminished intensity of light comprising: a stimulus signal source which stimulates an object being measured so as to repetitively emit light pulses at predetermined timing intervals; a streaking tube including a photoelectric layer for converting said repetitive light pulses to corresponding electric signals; a deflection electrode for generating a deflection electric field for deflecting a single photoelectron; at least one micro-channel-plate for multiplying said single photoelectron so as to generate a plurality of electrons at the output thereof, the distribution of said electrons having a peak with a narrow half-value width; and a phosphor layer stimulated by electrons at the output of said at least one micro-channel-plate, a spot having approximately the same brightness for each of said single photoelectrons being formed on the surface of said phosphor layer whereby the brightness of said spot corresponds to the number of multiplied electrons; a deflection circuit for applying, to said deflection electrode, a sweeping voltage synchronized with the stimulating signal issued from said stimulus signal source; and detecting means for detecting the brightness of said spot on the phosphor layer of said streaking tube by means of photoelectric conversion, said detecting means being a television imaging device. .Iaddend.

Claim 6

detecting means being a television imaging device. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. A device for measuring an extremely diminished intensity of light comprising: a stimulus signal source which stimulates an object being measured so as to repetitively emit light pulses at predetermined timing intervals; a streaking tube including a photoelectric layer for converting said repetitive light pulses to corresponding electric signals; a deflection electrode for generating a deflection electric field for deflecting a single photoelectron; at least one micro-channel-plate for multiplying said single photoelectron so as to generate a plurality of electrons at the output thereof, the distribution of said electrons having a peak with a narrow half-value width; and a phosphor layer stimulated by electrons at the output of said at least one micro-channel-plate, a spot having approximately the same brightness for each of said single photoelectrons being formed on the surface of said phosphor layer whereby the brightness of said spot corresponds to the number of multiplied electrons; a deflection circuit for applying, to said deflection electrode, a sweeping voltage synchronized with the stimulating signal issued from said stimulus signal source; and detecting means for detecting the brightness of said spot on the phosphor layer of said streaking tube by means of photoelectric conversion, said detecting means being a television imaging device. .Iaddend.