China has successfully developed an imaging streak camera that can capture ultrafast phenomena that occur within the extremely short time period of one microsecond, or a millionth of a second.

The camera, which has independent property rights, passed acceptance on May 22 indicating that China’s high performance imaging streak camera has now entered its practical phase, according to the Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Ultrafast phenomena exist widely in nature and scientific research, such as during the process of photosynthesis in plants, chemical reactions and even electrical pulses.

The study of such phenomena is of great significance in many fields, including natural science, energy, biology, optical physics, photo-chemistry and high-energy physics, said Zhao Wei, director of the institute.

Zhao added that the high performance imaging streak camera is the only high-end scientific instrument that has ultrahigh resolution in capturing phenomena in terms of both time and space.

For a long time, China had relied on other countries to develop this type of equipment. The country decided to develop its own device back in 2012, with support from CAS and the Ministry of Finance.

After overcoming various difficulties and making a series of breakthroughs since then, the institute has now developed eight camera sets.

Experts of the acceptance group say that development of the equipment has reached an internationally advanced level, with some of the core technologies reaching a leading level.

The equipment has now entered into small-scale production, and is expected to achieve significant growth by mid 2020 with an anticipated annual production of 200, Zhao noted.