Interferometric measurement of the temporal transfer function of a single-shot picosecond streak camera

Temporal beats between two separate pulsed lasers of different adjustable frequency are used as a means of measuring the temporal transfer function of a single-shot picosecond streak camera. We describe two parallel pulse generators that use tunable distributed-feedback dye lasers. These lasers produce two pulses of different frequency that interfere at the camera. The temporal fringe contrast at the camera output provides a direct measure of its transfer function. Fringe spacing combined with spectroscopic measure of the laser wavelengths provides a calibration of the temporal scale.