Patent ID: 7058093
Filing Date: 2006-06-06
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A Q-switched, cavity dumped laser system, comprising: an optical cavity; a gain medium located in the cavity; a Q-switch located in the cavity operative to switch the cavity between a high loss state and a low loss state, wherein during the high loss state a gain in the gain medium increases and thereafter when the Q-switch is changed to a low loss state the gain in the gain medium is depleted creating a high peak power pulse, and thereafter when the Q-switch is changed to a high loss state the Q-switch pulse is coupled out of the cavity; an optical detector operative to detect the build up of the Q-switch pulse while the Q-switch is in the low loss state and provide a detector output voltage signal in response thereto; a comparator for receiving the output voltage signal of the detector and generating a trigger signal when the voltage signal generated by the detector reaches a predetermined level; a timer operative to receive the trigger signal and provide a timing signal in response thereto, the timing signal being received by the Q-switch for switching back to the high loss state in order to couple the pulse out of the cavity; and a laser beam output coupler providing cavity dumping by directing laser energy out of the optical cavity when the optical cavity is in a high loss state.