Single-shot multi-time-frame imaging of plasmas with a frequency tagged GHz pulse train

Studying plasma dynamics is crucial for understanding processes like inertial confinement fusion, material damage, and shockwave formation from intense laser or current interactions. While pump-probe methods are standard for capturing these dynamics, single-shot experiments using high-power, low-repetition-rate systems with custom targets are challenging. We present a novel, to the best of our knowledge, imaging technique, using a synchronized GHz-rate spectrally tagged probe laser, which can capture multiple time-resolved snapshots from a single pump event. Diffraction optics spatially separate the pulses, yielding nanosecond-resolved images. Traditional pump-probe experiments with tantalum and borosilicate glass show shockwave velocities consistent with literature, validating the method's accuracy and utility in plasma diagnostics.