ultrafastpulser

An ultrafast pulser is an electronic device that generates electrical pulses with durations in the picosecond to nanosecond range. It is designed to produce sharp edges with low timing jitter to enable precise synchronization in high-speed experiments.

Most ultrafast pulsers achieve short pulses with fast switching elements such as avalanche transistors, step-recovery diodes, or fast MOSFETs, often paired with short, impedance-matched transmission lines. Some designs use photoconductive switches triggered by ultrafast laser pulses for optical control.

Typical performance ranges include pulse widths from a few picoseconds to a few nanoseconds, rise and fall times on the order of tens of picoseconds, and amplitudes from a few volts to kilovolts depending on the technology. Repetition rates vary from single-shot operation in research settings to tens of kilohertz or higher in specialized systems. Power handling and thermal management are important constraints.

Applications include testing and characterization of high-speed electronics, synchronization in particle accelerators and laser systems, time-resolved measurements in ultrafast spectroscopy, and driving fast radar and microwave experiments.

Limitations and challenges include jitter, amplitude stability, bandwidth limits of the pulser and cables, and heat generation. Achieving shorter pulses often requires careful transmission-line design and shielding from electromagnetic interference.

See also: ultrafast laser, pulse generator, photoconductive switch, time-domain reflectometry.