In June 1964, the Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics developed a nanosecond exposure time monolithic Kerr cell high-speed camera, and a 200,000 frames per second (fps) high-speed camera.

These instruments were employed during China’s first atomic bomb test on Oct. 16, 1964. They captured the fireball state and its variations in the early stage of the explosion, thus successfully fulfilling their optical measurement task.

In November 1966, the institute developed a 2.5 million fps high-speed camera, which was used during China’s first hydrogen bomb test on June 17, 1967, successfully completing its optical measurement task.

Through independent innovation, the institute has positioned China’s high-speed photography research at the international forefront.