RP Photonics logo
VL logo part of the
Virtual
Library

The Photonics Spotlight

Mode-Locked Lasers: Lower Average Powers in Shorter Pulses

Ref.: encyclopedia articles on mode-locked lasers, ultrafast lasers, ultrashort pulses

It is very common that those mode-locked lasers generating the shortest pulses tend to offer lower average output powers and pulse energies. This could be surprising, since there is no direct relation between the average power capability and the pulse duration. However, there are various reasons behind the mentioned correlation. Here are some examples:

These are just some typical issues, which introduce trade-offs between different performance parameters of a laser design. Any laser design involves many different aspects with many more or less obvious relations between those, and any dropped requirement (such as a particularly short pulse duration) may allow the designer to shift certain properties so that better performance in other aspects can be achieved. And of course the opposite holds as well: demanding more on one side can compromise other features – at least when the overall design is optimized, so that no room for general improvement is wasted anywhere.

This article is a posting of the Photonics Spotlight. You may send comments and suggestions to RP Photonics Consulting GmbH. You may also link to this page, because its location is permanent. See also the Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology.

arrow

This encyclopedia is provided by
RP Photonics Consulting GmbH.

Utilize the expertise of the author, Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta, also in the form of technical consulting services!

RP Fiber Power

This software helps to design and analyze fiber amplifiers and lasers.

Onefive logo

Onefive

Low-noise
femtosecond,
picosecond,
and tunable single-frequency lasers for OEM and R&D applications.

A.L.S. logo

A.L.S. GmbH

Picosecond laser diodes
<30 ps, 375 – 1600 nm, >1 Wp, single shot – 120 MHz

Field Guide to Lasers

This new book by Dr. Paschotta explains principles and types of lasers.

RP Q-switch

A powerful software tool for designing
Q-switched lasers. See the details.

TRUMPF logo

TRUMPF-Laser

a leading supplier of industrial diode pumped solid state lasers,
CO2 lasers, and laser systems for material processing.

Your Advertisement at This Place

will be seen by many thousands of visitors per month. These banners receive far over 100'000 page hits per month. Check the details.