Precise measurements of high-voltage pulses by using electro-optical effect

A novel method of more precise measurements of high-voltage pulses has been proposed using a linear electro-optical effect. The increase in measurement precision has been obtained using multiple passes of a laser beam through a noncentrosymmetric nonlinear optics single crystal of good optical quality whilst applying a nonhomogeneous electric field. Different crystalline materials, showing appropriate values of electrooptical coefficients r_ijlo have been found to be applicable for highly precise measurements of the high-voltage pulses. The maximum amplitude of the high-voltage pulses can reach 20 MV, ensuring an accuracy of about 0.2 V (i.e. 10⁻⁸ of the measured value). The pulse duration of about 10⁻¹⁰ s can be registered. All these advantages of the presented method provide a powerful tool for technologists and metrology physicists.