Patent ID: 6683893
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: B33Y,H01S

Abstract:
A method of operating an optically pumped laser having a solid state gain medium and a Q-switch located within the resonator thereof, said method for generating output pulses of sufficient energy to treat a work piece comprising the steps of:a) continuously pumping the gain medium at a power sufficient to generate a continuous laser output when the Q-switch is open, said continuous laser output having an energy below the energy necessary to treat the work piece; b) closing the Q-switch for a first period; c) thereafter opening the Q-switch for a second period longer than said first period, with the time between the start of the first period and the start of the second period being sufficient to produce an output pulse after the beginning of the second period and having an energy sufficient to treat the work piece, and wherein said continuous laser output is generated during the latter portion of said second period; and d) repeating steps (b) and (c) a plurality of times to produce a plurality of output pulses, with the time between the beginning of each second period and the beginning of each subsequent first period being sufficient to produce said continuous laser output and with the time periods begin controlled to minimize changes in thermal lensing in the resonator.