title: Solid-state ultrafast all-optical streak camera enabling high-dynamic-range picosecond recording.
abstract: We demonstrate an ultrafast optical recording system based on a novel optical beam deflection technique. An optical pump temporarily creates an array of prisms that deflect an optical signal beam within a GaAs/AlGaAs planar waveguide. The fabricated device yielded, to our knowledge, the fastest sustained optical deflection reported to date and was used to create spatial representations of ultrafast temporal waveforms. A conventional camera was then used to record single-shot waveforms with a 2.5 ps resolution over a 50 ps record with a dynamic range in excess of 3000:1. Through further development, this all-optical streak camera could provide insight into previously unmeasurable phenomena in many fields.
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
authors.forename: Chris H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Sarantos
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Heebner