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Title: Absolute calibration of optical streak cameras on picosecond time scales using supercontinuum generation

Journal Article · · Applied Optics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.56.006982· OSTI ID:1389936
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [3];  [1];  [5];  [3]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); AWE, Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire (United Kingdom); Imperial College, London (United Kingdom). Blackett Lab.
  3. Imperial College, London (United Kingdom). Blackett Lab.
  4. AWE, Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire (United Kingdom)
  5. First Light Fusion, Kidlington (United Kingdom)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Here we report a new method using high stability, laser-driven supercontinuum generation in a liquid cell to calibrate the absolute photon response of fast optical streak cameras as a function of wavelength when operating at fastest sweep speeds. A stable, pulsed white light source based around the use of self-phase modulation in a salt solution was developed to provide the required brightness on picosecond timescales, enabling streak camera calibration in fully dynamic operation. The measured spectral brightness allowed for absolute photon response calibration over a broad spectral range (425-650nm). Calibrations performed with two Axis Photonique streak cameras using the Photonis P820PSU streak tube demonstrated responses which qualitatively follow the photocathode response. Peak sensitivities were 1 photon/count above background. The absolute dynamic sensitivity is less than the static by up to an order of magnitude. We attribute this to the dynamic response of the phosphor being lower.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1389936
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1375275
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-732138; APOPAI
Journal Information:
Applied Optics, Vol. 56, Issue 24; ISSN 1559-128X
Publisher:
Optical Society of AmericaCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 3 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (10)

Streaked optical pyrometer system for laser-driven shock-wave experiments on OMEGA journal March 2007
Absolute calibration of the OMEGA streaked optical pyrometer for temperature measurements of compressed materials journal November 2016
Phosphor Non-Linearities In Picosecond Streak Cameras conference January 1990
Streak camera phosphors: response to ultrashort excitation conference January 1991
Characterization of a subpicosecond x-ray streak camera for ultrashort laser-produced plasmas experiments journal January 2000
Supercontinuum generation in tapered fibers journal January 2000
Supercontinuum Generation in Gases journal November 1986
Enhancement of ultrafast supercontinuum generation in water by the addition of Zn^2+ and K^+ cations journal January 1987
Photoelectron current saturation in streak tubes used for high-dynamic-range measurements on inertial confinement fusion lasers conference May 1997
Optical and x-ray streak camera gain measurements journal October 2004

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46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
Optical instruments
Supercontinuum generation
Detectors
Photodetectors