Influence of geomagnetic field on the imaging performance of a streak tube

Abstract Streak cameras are widely used as ultrafast diagnostic tools in several research fields as the spatiotemporal measurement is of great significance in physics, chemistry, and biomedical research. However, as action objects, electron beams inside streak tubes are easily affected by the surrounding environment, which may lead to deterioration in the performance. In this study, the influence of a geomagnetic field on a streak tube is verified through a simulation. Based on the simulation results, the variation in the image shape due to the geomagnetic field and the overall camera imaging characteristics are analysed theoretically for the first time. The experimental result demonstrates that the imaging characteristics are better after a theoretical analysis is conducted and the final image is adjusted according. We discuss how this analysis can further develop other types of electron optical imaging systems and experiments.