Patent ID: 7970026
Filing Date: 2011-06-28
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A method of generating output pulses from a laser having a cavity bounded by a first mirror and a second mirror and containing a circulating intracavity pulse, comprising: repeating for a predetermined number of cavity round-trips the sequence of: reflecting the intracavity pulse from the first mirror; directing the intracavity pulse to the cavity dumper, the intracavity pulse having a total power at incidence upon the cavity dumper; directing with the cavity dumper a first output percentage of the intracavity pulse into a first output arm to form a first output laser pulse; retaining a first retention percentage of the intracavity pulse in the cavity; reflecting the intracavity pulse from the second mirror; directing with the cavity dumper a second output percentage of the intracavity pulse into a second output arm to form a second output laser pulse; and retaining a second retention percentage of the intracavity pulse in the cavity; wherein the first output percentage is a desired output divided by the total power; wherein the first retention percentage is 100% minus the first output percentage; wherein the second output percentage is a cavity dumping ratio minus the first output percentage; wherein the second retention percentage is 100% minus the cavity dumping ratio; wherein the cavity comprises a cavity dumping repetition rate; wherein the cavity has a characteristic profile of output pulse energy versus cavity dumping repetition rate, the characteristic profile including a first peak for the cavity dumping ratio; wherein the cavity dumping repetition rate is away from the first peak having a bistability zone, and wherein a energy of a first pulse of a train is essentially equal to the energies of subsequent pulses in the train.