Picosecond time-resolved absorption spectrometer using a streak camera

A picosecond time-resolved absorption spectrometer is described. The apparatus consisting of a probe light source, a polychromator, and a streak camera enables us to observe time-resolved absorption spectra in the range from picoseconds to several nanoseconds, with 50 ps time resolution. The probe light has the properties of a wide range continuum spectrum from UV to near IR and is of several tens of nanoseconds in duration. Using this apparatus, with only a single laser shot, we can observe transient absorption both temporal and spectral simultaneously. This apparatus is useful for studying the primary process of photochemical dynamics.