Measurements of the temporal and spatial resolution of a PS-1/S1 image-converter camera, depending on the scanning speed, were performed. The camera has a PIF-01 electron-optical converter with deflecting plates of the capacitor-type scan. It is shown that obtaining the minimum half-width of the space–time response function in two mutually perpendicular directions (time and space) can be achieved by selecting an optimal voltage at the focusing electrode. The difference between the optimal static and dynamic voltages of focusing in space and time was determined experimentally, which was 450 V for a scanning speed of 1.56 × 10 10 cm/s. Computer modeling of the processes that affect the optimal resolution was performed.

A scheme of an autocorrelator developed for measuring the duration of picosecond pulses of infrared radiation from the 3rd Novosibirsk Free Electron Laser is presented, as well as the results of approbation of the autocorrelator when measuring the duration of picosecond pulses in the visible range.

The efficiency of the injection from the linear accelerator into the damping ring of the injection complex at Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics has been experimentally studied. The estimations of the injection efficiency are in good agreement with the measurements. A method for increasing the efficiency of injection from the linear accelerator into the damping ring has been implemented in order to enhance the productivity of the injection complex. To this end, the RF cavity has been replaced and the RF frequency was changed from 700 to 11 MHz. Recent measurements have shown a two-fold increase in the productivity. Besides that, the behavior of the longitudinal profile of a bunch during the first turns in the damping ring and the dependence of the profile on the beam current have been studied.

The efficiency of injection from a linear accelerator into the damping ring of the BINP injection complex has been experimentally studied. The estimations of the injection efficiency are in good agreement with the experimental results. Our method of increasing the capture efficiency can enhance the productivity of the injection complex by a factor of 1.5–2.

A procedure is described for determining the basic parameters of linear-sweep electron-optical cameras. The techniques are considered for measuring the limiting temporal resolution and dynamic range of the PS-1/S1 camera using a femtosecond laser and sinusoidal-modulated laser radiation.

Temporal parameters of synchrotron pulse radiation at damping ring (DP) installation of VEPP-5 type were measured with the help of PS-1/S1 picosecond streak camera having 1.5 ps time resolution. These measurements were proceeded within 400-900 nm spectral range. It has been shown that our streak camera may record either a train of electron bunches with ns-duration or internal structure inside a single bunch. We were able to record the distance ~ 1.5 ns between separate bunches as well as their amplitude, which depends on particle numbers inside a bunch. Depending on linear accelerator mode of operation it was possible to define a single bunch duration, which was deviated within the range of 20-100 ps. The temporal structure of a single bunch was measured with 1.5 ps time accuracy. As a result, the VEPP-5 damping ring parameters were optimized, and particles injection conditions were improved. In addition, we have measured the temporal parameters of Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation (VCR) emitted by electron beam of linear accelerator. Our results provided important information on electron bunches formation and their quality inside linear accelerator before electrons injection inside a damping ring. Another series of experiments were done at VEPP-4M electron-positron collider. The dependence of beam length of the beam current measured with streak-camera allowed us to compute the wide-band impedance of the accelerator. The same data were obtained at Siberia-2 synchrotron radiation source (NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow).

A dissector is an electron-optical device designed for measurement of periodic light pulses of subnanosecond and picosecond duration. LI-602 dissector developed at Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (BINP SB RAS) is widely used for routine measurements of a longitudinal profile of electron and positron beams at BINP electron-positron colliders and other similar installations(1,2). LI-602 dissector is a part of many optical diagnostic systems and provides temporal resolution of about 20 ps. Recently a new generation of picosecond dissectors were created on the basis of the PIF- 01/S1 picosecond streak-image tube designed and manufactured at the A.M.Prokhorov General Physics Institute (GPI) Photoelectronics Department(3,4). The results of the measurements of instrument function of the new dissector based on PIF-01/S1, which were carried out in the static mode(5) showed that temporal resolution of the dissector can be better than 3-4 ps (FWHM). The results of temporal resolution calibration of the new-generation picosecond dissector carried out at the specialized set-up based on a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser and recent results of longitudinal beam profile measurements at BINP damping ring are given in this work.

This paper describes a new image-tube dissector based on a PIF-01 chronographic image-tube device developed and manufactured at the Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (PGPI RAS). The results of the static measurements of the instrumental function of the dissector showing that its temporal resolution can be higher than 4 ps are given. These data are confirmed by direct measurements on the bench of the PGPI RAS with the use of a femtosecond titanium-sapphire laser.

Using a picosecond image converter camera with a linear sweep (PS-1/S1 streak camera developed at GPI RAS, Moscow), we have measured temporal parameters of Vavilov – Cherenkov radiation pulses. The radiation was generated by relativistic electrons passing through a quartz cone mounted on the axis of a vacuum chamber of a linear accelerator, which is a part of the VEPP-5 injection complex at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (BINP SB RAS, Novosibirsk). The data obtained in these experiments provide an insight into the processes of formation of electron bunches and their ‘quality’ in a linear accelerator prior to injection of electrons into the accumulator-cooler. A conclusion is made regarding the advisability of streak camera application in tuning the linear accelerators for optimisation of electron bunch parameters.

The application of a PS-1/S1 picosecond streak camera (SC), which was developed at the General Physics Institute (Russian Academy of Sciences) for investigating fast processes in semiconductor physics, laser physics, and accelerator engineering, is described. It is shown that using the PS-1/S1 SC it is possible to record one-dimensional images (restricted by a narrow slit) of fast processes with a time resolution of no worse than 1 ps in a wide spectral range: from UV (115 nm) to near-IR (1.5 μm) radiation with a dynamic recording range of ≥10. The presented experimental results show the wide potential capabilities of applying the developed SC in various fields of experimental physics.

A PS-1/S1 picosecond streak camera with a linear sweep is used to measure temporal characteristics of synchrotron radiation pulses on a damping ring (DR) at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (BINP) of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Novosibirsk). The data obtained allow a conclusion as to the formation processes of electron bunches and their 'quality' in the DR after injection from the linear accelerator. The expediency of employing the streak camera as a part of an optical diagnostic accelerator complex for adjusting the injection from a linear accelerator is shown. Discussed is the issue of designing a new-generation dissector with a time resolution up to a few picoseconds, which would allow implementation of a continuous bunch monitoring in the DR during mutual work with the electron-positron colliders at the BINP.

Recently a new generation of picosecond dissectors were created on the basis of the PIF-01/S1 picosecond streak-image tube designed and manufactured at the GPI Photoelectronics Department. The results of the measurements of instrument characteristics of the new dissector, which were carried out in the static mode, showed that temporal resolution of the dissector can be better than 3-4 ps (FWHM). The results of temporal resolution calibration of the new-generation picosecond dissector carried out at the specialized set-up based on a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser are given in this work.

When replacing the conventional “slow” luminescent screens (P20, P43) in picosecond image tubes by the “fast” ones (P46, P47), we found an increase in the decay time of “fast” cathodoluminophors (by a factor of 2–5) with increasing the number (from one to a hundred) of measured pulses. The consideration of the detected effect makes it possible to correct the problem statement in developing picosecond dissectors for recording repeated signals in the accumulation mode (e.g., synchrotron radiation).

The well-established PIF-01/S1/P43 picosecond streak tube, designed 30 years ago and still manufactured at the A.M. Prokhorov General Physics Institute, was modified by replacing its traditional P43 phosphor screen with a P47 one having approximately three orders of magnitude shorter decay time. The experimental measurements of this decay time were provided by PIF-01/S1/P47 image tube photocathode irradiation either with a single or a train of 8 ps laser pulses separated by 8 ns from each other at a 1.08 mu m wavelength. The results of our preliminary measurements of P47-BH phosphor (manufactured by Phosphor Technology Ltd) indicate the possibility of employing the PIF-01/S1/P47 streak tube for synchrotron diagnostics at a units megahertz repetition rate without the negative influence of 'ghost images' from the previous streak records.

A PS-1/S1 picosecond image-tube streak camera (ITSC) with slit scan (streak camera), developed and manufactured at the General Physics Institute RAS, has been used to measure the spatiotemporal characteristics of ultrashort laser pulses generated by a petawatt-power laser installation ‘FEMTO’ at the Institute of Laser Physics Research in Sarov. It is found that such a camera is suitable for measuring the spatial and temporal parameters of single laser pulses with an accuracy of about one picosecond. It is shown that the intensity time profile of a train of picosecond pulses may be precisely defined for the pulses separated in time by a few picoseconds. The camera allows the contrast of radiation to be determined with a high (no less than ) accuracy; spatial distribution of the laser pulses can be measured with an accuracy of tens of microns, and the temporal separation of single laser pulses can be identified with an accuracy of .

To improve operation parameters (S/N ratio, dynamics range, time resolution, etc.) of picosecond streak tubes, the traditional P20/P43 phosphor screens can be replaced by the others (P46/P47) having much faster decay time of the luminescence output. We provide comparative dynamic measurements of the home-made phosphor screens inside the picosecond PIF-01 streak tubes under illumination of their photocathodes by a single picosecond laser pulse or a train of picosecond laser pulses. We show that the shortest measured decay time for made-in-Russia phosphor screens (Y3Al5O12:Ce) is close to several hundreds of nanoseconds not only at a half-intensity level but also at a level of 10−3 and even smaller. Furthermore, the photoelectron-to-photon conversion factor is not drastically smaller than in the traditional phosphor materials. This means that application of streak tubes supplied with fast-response phosphor screens may substantially improve the tube capabilities in the accumulation mode, and this is very important for time-resolved diagnostics of electron bunches in accelerators, where continuous accumulation of repetitive signals is needed.

Errors of measuring time dependences of the light intensities of picosecond laser pulses by two electron-optical systems are studied. The first system is the picosecond streak camera made in Russia, and the second system, designed in Germany, consists of a picosecond streak camera coupled with a double spec-trograph. The manufacturers test similar systems by using femtosecond pulses, however, this does not allow one to predict errors of measuring picosecond pulses. Parameters that characterize just these errors are proposed and measured. Their behavior is determined, when the amplitude (energy) of the measured pulses increases, and the influence of the cross-section shape of the light beam on the measurement accuracy is studied.