AXIS-SV: High-Sensitivity Visible-IR Streak Camera

AXIS-SV is a high sensitivity streak camera that can sweep 200 points (10 mm slit) with a time resolution of 4 ps (FWHM). It integrates a streak tube, a high-sensitivity TE-cooled CMOS and an internal computer. It’s a standalone solution for complex scientific experiments.

axis px streak camera

Portable system with:

  • P900 PHOTONIS high-end streak tube

  • Available with S20, S25 and S1 photocathode

  • TE-cooled 16-bit CMOS coupled by fiber optics

  • EMI-rugged electronics

  • Internal computer with remote control

  • Full calibration on a femtosecond laser

Applications:

  • Physical chemistry

  • Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

  • Photoluminescence Studies

  • Material Science

  • Raman spectroscopy

  • Plasma diagnostics

  • Laser Metrology

AXIS-SV SPECIFICATIONS

STREAK TUBE

This streak camera uses a P900 PHOTONIS streak tube built according to high quality standards and features:

  • Picosecond time resolution
  • High spatial resolution
  • Integrated input slit (no need for a mechanical slit)
  • Ruggedized for harsh environment

It can be built with different cathodes and matched with the experiment for optimal throughput:

photonis bilamellar streak tube

SPATIAL RESOLUTION

Photocathode length (X): 10 mm

Spatial Resolution (dx):  40µm with 50% contrast at the center of the screen

Number of spatial resolution units in screen (X/dx):  250 points

TIME RESOLUTION

Available Ranges (ΔT):  1 ns to 1 ms

Number of time-resolution units in screen (Nt):  400

Single-shot time resolution (δt):  δt = ΔT / Nt     * Limited to 4 ps

TRIGGER

Standard Sweep Unit Laser-Triggered Sweep Unit MHz Sweep Unit
Trigger pulse Electrical Femtosecond laser Electrical
Requirements 5-10 V in 50Ω 100 μJ @ 800 nm 5-10 V in 50Ω
Maximum repetition rate  < 100 Hz 5 kHz 2 MHz
Jitter  < 15 ps RMS ~ 1/2 ps (depending on the properties of the laser)  < 15 ps RMS

READOUT

Readout type: TE-Cooled CMOS Digital camera

CCD chip size: 2048 x 2048 pixels (27 mm x 27mm)

Digitizer: 16 bit

Coupling to streak tube: 1.3:1 Fiber optic taper

OPERATION MODES

streak camera-normal-mode Normal sweep
The sweep crosses the whole screen and ends outside.
streak camera-timing-mode Timing mode
The sweep always remains in the screen. It is used to synchronize the streak camera to the experiment.
streak camera-focus-mode Focus mode
The slit image is positioned at the center of the screen. The sweep trigger is disabled. This mode is used to align the experimental setup and to adjust the incident light level.

INTERNAL COMPUTER and SOFTWARE

AXIS-SV is an all-in-one system that is operated locally by connecting a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse.

It comes with an internal computer that controls the streak tube supplies, the sweep circuits, monitors voltage stability, performs different self tests and safety checks. It can also control other optional peripherals via the USB port (a laser system, for example).

All required software comes pre-installed on the system. It is used to:

  • Control whole system and acquire images
  • Control the laser system (optional)
  • Plot lineouts along time axis or space axis
  • save image in different formats

Remote control over Gigabit Ethernet :

  • “Windows Remote Desktop”
  • Web base GUI
  • High level device servers (TANGO, OPC, etc…) are available.

GENERAL

Electrical input: Universal AC, 110-240V, 50-60 Hz

Certification: CE

Tests and Calibration: Before shipping, each system is tested on a femtosecond laser at the Advanced Laser Light Source.

Installation and Training: A qualified engineer is sent to your laboratory to install the system and train users.

OPTIONS

Blanking circuits
With the blanking option, streak tube is blocked during the time the signals sweeps back to its start position. This feature is required when the optical signal lasts longer than the sweep range.

Remote control over Optical Ethernet
to operate system via optical Ethernet 1 Gbs (1000 Base SX).

Laser-triggered sweep unit for CPA lasers
Because of its 500 fs RMS jitter, this unit allows the analysis of ultrafast events at repetition rates up to 5 kHz while conserving the excellent spatial and temporal resolution of the AXIS streak camera. This is the ideal tools ultrafast spectroscopy with large dynamic range and high signal-to-noise ratio It requires about 100 µJ per laser pulse.

AFSC streak camera

Only a fraction of the laser energy is taken to trigger photoconductive switches. This allows signal averaging over a large number of laser shots.

24V supply
To power the whole system with a DC voltage between 23V and 28V.

Spectrometer
spectrometer that fits special needs.