Photoconductive sampling of subpicosecond pulses using mutual inductive coupling in coplanar transmission lines

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Abstract
We demonstrate the generation and detection of subpicosecond pulses by photoconductive sampling in a three-line coplanar transmission line structure. Due to a mutual inductive coupling between adjacent striplines a differential sampling is obtained. Voltage pulses as short as 390 fs have been measured in a long-lifetime photoconductive switch. We emphasize that differential coupling can be used for the detection as well as the generation of subpicosecond pulses in long-lifetime photoconductors.