Subpicosecond streak camera averaging measurements using a photoconductive switch with amplitude compensation

Summary form only given. The use of photoconductors to generate a high voltage synchronous sweep ramp for streak camera has been reported previously in the literature. A typical driving circuit is shown where two photoconductors are used to feed a voltage to the deflection plates of the streak camera. The photoconductors are driven by a fraction of the laser pulse energy incident with the proper timing. Although for a perfect pulse this setup is basically jitter free, it suffers from limitations due to: (a) premature conduction of the photoconductors produced by the ASE background, and (b) dependence of the sweep amplitude upon the laser intensity.