Patent ID: 7557503

Claim:
A streak tube comprising: an envelope including an entrance faceplate for entering light to be detected, and a tubular part whose center axis is a tube axis; a photocathode, disposed within the envelope, for converting the light received from the entrance faceplate into an electron; an anode placed perpendicular to the tube axis and having an opening for passing there through the electron emitted from the photocathode, the opening being a single opening and having a form employing the tube axis as a center axis; a deflecting electrode for controlling a deflection of the electron having passed through the opening of the anode; and detecting means for detecting a streak image due to the electron having the deflection controlled by the deflecting electrode after being emitted from the photocathode; wherein the photocathode is configured so as to be kept from directly facing the anode on an axis of an electric field formed between the entrance faceplate and the anode within the envelope, and the photocathode is visible from the opening of the anode as seen on a straight line different from the axis of the electric field, and the streak tube further comprising a control electrode, having a blocking portion disposed between the photocathode and the anode, and an opening for passing there through the electron emitted from the photocathode and controlling a condition for passing the electron from the photocathode to the anode, and the opening of the control electrode is formed at a predetermined part of the blocking portion excluding an intersection with the axis of the electric field, so that a straight path along the axis of the electric field between the photocathode and the anode is blocked by the blocking portion.