Picosecond Absorption Kinetic Spectrometer with a Laser and a Streak Camera

A high resolution picosecond absorption kinetic spectrometer utilizing dye emission and a streak camera is presented and compared with other methods of picosecond transient absorption measurements. Typical transient absorption and bleach recovery kinetics measured with this spectrometer are shown. Single wavelength transient absorption or ground state bleach recovery kinetics are determined on the basis of a single laser shot, so that the samples are relatively free frm decomposition by irradiation. Excellent kinetics may be obtained from the near UV to the near IR and are not subject to interference from luminescence of samples. The sensitivity of this spectrometer is very high and it is reasonably easy and convenient to set up and use.