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Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology

Pulse Generation

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Ask RP Photonics for advice on any pulse generation techniques, e.g. on which technique is most appropriate in a particular case.

Short or ultrashort optical pulses can in principle be generated by starting with a continuous light source and using a fast modulator, which lets the light pass only for a short period of time. However, such a method is not efficient, since most of the light will be lost at the modulator, and also the pulse duration is limited by the speed (bandwidth) of the modulator. Pulses with much higher energies and much shorter durations can be generated in pulsed lasers. The most frequently used methods are:

There are other methods, which are less frequently used. Some examples are:

See also: pulses, double pulses, ultrashort pulses, pulsed lasers, nanosecond lasers, picosecond lasers, femtosecond lasers, modes of laser operation, Q switching, mode locking, cavity dumping, regenerative amplifiers, chirped-pulse amplification, gain switching, quasi-continuous-wave operation

Categories: methods, pulses


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Since October 2008, the Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology is also available in the form of a two-volume book. Maybe you would enjoy reading it also in that form! The print version has a carefully designed layout and can be considered a must-have for any institute library, laser research group, or laser company.

You may order the print version via Wiley-VCH.

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This encyclopedia is provided by
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You can get technical consulting from the author, Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta.

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