Acta Photonica Sinica, Volume. 54, Issue 5, 0532002(2025)

Design of a High-precision and Low-jitter Synchronization System for X-ray Framing Cameras

Sen ZHAO1,2, Yongsheng GOU1、*, Yang YANG1, Zhen CHEN1, Bo WANG1, Penghui FENG1, Yan XU1, Jinshou TIAN1, and Baiyu LIU1
Author Affiliations
  • 1Key Laboratory of Ultra-fast Photoelectric Diagnostics Technology,Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Xi'an 710119,China
  • 2University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China
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    Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF), a leading approach for controlled nuclear fusion, has garnered considerable attention due to its potential for sustainable energy production. ICF experiments involve the implosion of a target capsule driven by high-power laser pulses to create extreme temperature and pressure conditions necessary for fusion. During this process, X-ray radiation emitted by the plasma carries critical spatiotemporal information, which is crucial for understanding and optimizing the fusion dynamics. To capture the fine details of this ultra-fast process, X-ray framing cameras with ultra-high temporal and spatial resolution are employed.However, current X-ray imaging techniques face stringent requirements regarding time synchronization accuracy and trigger jitter, which can severely affect the precision of image capture. The frame rates of ultra-fast digital framing cameras have already reached the picosecond (ps) scale, and timing errors, such as nanosecond- or even picosecond-level trigger jitter and delay, can significantly compromise the quality of the images. Therefore, developing a synchronization system that ensures high precision and low jitter is pivotal for achieving accurate imaging in ICF experiments.Traditional synchronization methods for measuring and compensating trigger jitter include the current integration method and FPGA-based carry-chain techniques. The current integration method, theoretically capable of providing high measurement precision, suffers from considerable measurement errors due to temperature fluctuations, electromagnetic interference, and noise, which undermine its reliability in ICF applications. On the other hand, FPGA-based carry-chain Time-to-digital Converters (TDCs) can achieve jitter measurements with a precision of up to 10 ps. However, measuring large dynamic ranges often requires the coordination of hundreds of carry chains, which complicates the FPGA routing and may affect the linearity of the TDC, leading to potential errors in measurement.To address these challenges, this paper proposes a synchronization system based on digital delay techniques and high-precision ASCI TDC time measurement. This system aims to overcome the limitations of traditional analog measurement methods and significantly improve both precision and reliability.The proposed system uses a high-precision TDC to accurately measure trigger jitter and incorporates high-resolution digital delay chips to perform fine compensation within a single system clock cycle, effectively eliminating jitter errors and mitigating environmental noise-induced measurement inaccuracies. The system employs FPGA-based delay counting technology, enabling full-cycle, large dynamic range delay control, while the digital delay chips fine-tune delays within a clock cycle. Through precise time measurement and digital compensation, the system can limit trigger jitter to within 30 ps, delay precision to within 20 ps, and trigger delay control to within 90 ns. Experimental results demonstrate that this synchronization system significantly improves the synchronization accuracy of X-ray framing cameras, enhancing the quality and completeness of imaging results.Compared with existing high-performance synchronization devices, such as the DG645, the proposed system not only matches the performance parameters but also offers significant cost advantages. With precise time synchronization control, this system meets the stringent time synchronization requirements of ICF experiments and enhances the accuracy of image data acquisition for X-ray framing cameras. This provides substantial technical support for advancing ICF research. Furthermore, the design principles and implementation methods of the proposed synchronization system have broad applicability in other fields requiring high-precision time synchronization, such as gamma-ray astrophysics, free-electron laser diagnostics, and laser ranging imaging. The synchronization system, based on digital time measurement and compensation, offers higher reliability and adaptability while meeting high temporal resolution and low jitter demands.In conclusion, the proposed synchronization system provides an innovative solution for the development of ultra-fast imaging technologies and lays a solid foundation for further research and applications in related scientific fields. Through high-precision time synchronization, the system significantly improves the time resolution and accuracy of imaging devices, offering crucial technical support for high-end scientific experiments like ICF. As the technology continues to be optimized and expanded, the proposed synchronization system is poised to play a pivotal role in the future of high-precision time synchronization in various scientific domains.

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    Sen ZHAO, Yongsheng GOU, Yang YANG, Zhen CHEN, Bo WANG, Penghui FENG, Yan XU, Jinshou TIAN, Baiyu LIU. Design of a High-precision and Low-jitter Synchronization System for X-ray Framing Cameras[J]. Acta Photonica Sinica, 2025, 54(5): 0532002

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    Paper Information

    Category: Ultrafast Optics

    Received: Nov. 8, 2024

    Accepted: Jan. 7, 2025

    Published Online: Jun. 18, 2025

    The Author Email: Yongsheng GOU (yshgou@163.com)

    DOI:10.3788/gzxb20255405.0532002

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