Electrooptical Detection of Charged Particles

TL;DR

This paper reports the first observation of a charged particle beam using its electro-optical effect on laser light polarization in a LiNbO3 crystal, demonstrating a promising new detection technology.

Contribution

It introduces a novel electro-optical detection method for charged particles, achieving high temporal resolution and potential for improved particle beam detectors.

Findings

First observation of charged particle beam via electro-optical effect

Achieved 120 ps rise time in single shot mode

Potential for high-resolution particle detection

Abstract

We have made the first observation of a charged particle beam by means of its electro-optical effect on the polarization of laser light in a LiNbO3 crystal. The modulation of the laser light during the passage of a pulsed electron beam was observed using a fast photodiode and a digital oscilloscope. The fastest rise time measured, 120 ps, was obtained in the single shot mode and was limited by the bandwidth of the oscilloscope and the associated electronics. This technology holds promise for detectors of greatly improved spatial and temporal resolution for single relativistic charged particles as well as particle beams.