Scientists have invented a camera that shoots 156.3 trillion frames per second

A team of Canadian scientists has developed a SCARF (coded aperture real-time femtophotography) camera capable of capturing images at up to 156.3 trillion frames per second. This project was led by Professor Jinyang Liang, known for his work in the field of ultra-high-speed photo processing.

This device was designed for scientific researchers who need to study microscopic processes that occur too quickly for conventional sensors. Thus, SCARF has already managed to register ultra-fast processes of absorption in a microchip and demagnetization of metals.

To operate the camera, engineers used passive femtosecond photography, which allowed SCARF to use the T-CUP (trillion frames per second ultra-high-speed photography) system, while capturing trillions of frames every second.

SCARF works by generating ultrashort laser pulses at a rate of 156.3 trillion times per second, which pass through the object being observed. The camera uses computational imaging to collect spatial information by allowing light waves to reach the sensor at different times. The information is then processed by a special computer algorithm, which decodes the input data over time and generates a complete image. According to the team, this approach allows each pixel on a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera to process a full sequence at up to 156.3 THz.

It's important to note that, according to the team, SCARF was created using standard and passive optical components.