Ultrafast sampling oscilloscope

A femtosecond sampling oscilloscope includes a femtosecond laser for generating a pulse of light in the femtosecond range and a beam splitter for splitting the pulse of light into pulses traveling along first and second beam paths. A photoconductive switch disposed along the first beam path is used to produce an electrical stimulus output at a first output port, an electrical pulse output at a second output port and an optical output at a third output port. A photomultiplier tube having a strip line photocathode receives the pulse of light traveling along the first beam path. An input port is coupled to the photocathode. In use, the output signal at one of the output ports is connected to a test device producing a test voltage signal which is applied to the input port. When the test voltage signal and the light pulse traveling along the second path intersect on the photocathode in space and time, an electrical signal output is produced at the photomultiplier tube. The output is processed and/or stored in a computer and then, when desired, displayed on a cathode ray tube.