Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Direct Imaging of Laser-driven Ultrafast Molecular Rotation
Published on: February 4, 2017
Current waveform reconstruction from an explosively emissive cathode at a subnanosecond voltage front
K A Sharypov1, M R Ul'masculov1, V G Shpak1
1Institute of Electrophysics UB RAS, 106 Amundsen Str., 620016 Ekaterinburg, Russia.
Abstract:
We describe the methods of registration and reconstruction of an envelope of explosive electron emission current from the edge of a cylindrical cathode, which provides a picosecond time reference of the emitted electron beam with a subnanosecond voltage front applied to the accelerating gap. Variation of the front steepness allows one to determine the beam onset time in the experiments, where a collector-type current probe can be used. The advanced method of dynamic time domain reflectometry provides exact data on electron beam current rise and track changes in the cathode emission from pulse to pulse with a precision of less than 10 ps.
Related Concept Videos
Generating Electromagnetic Radiations
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Overview
Van de Graaff Generator
Van de Graaff uses both smooth and pointed surfaces, conductors, and insulators to generate large static charges and, hence, large voltages. A substantial excess charge can be deposited on the sphere because it moves...

