This is a simple op-amp circuit for a photodiode to detect IR laser pulses, simply plug it into an oscilloscope. It is very sensitive, so you may need to move it further from the beam. Supply is +12V, -12V and GND. The photodiode is fast with a detection ramp and decay time of 2nS and the op-amp is about 20nS, allowing for fast resolution of beam parameters. As mentioned above this is very sensitive, so you may need to turn out the lights and put the diode in a tube to reduce noise and signal strenght. You may also find you get a better signal if you remove the capacitor.