Abstract

In this work we have followed our earlier attempts to apply the electro-optic sampler to superconducting electronics,¹ and developed a fully cryogenic electro-optic sampler by integrating and immersing in superfluid helium both the photo-conductive switch and the birefringent lithium tantalate sensor. The ultimate temporal response of the system² as determined by measuring the transient onset of photoconductivity in a GaAs switch was less than 400 fs. The system was arranged in to two different configurations and used to probe the switching of a 30 × 30 μm² Josephson tunnel junction.

© 1987 Optical Society of America