Patent ID: 8599890

Claim:
A method for equalizing a series of laser pulses emitted at a periodic, random, or pseudo-random pulse repetition frequency by a laser comprising a lasing medium energized by a pump source, the method comprising: determining a pulse equalization pumping curve based on one or more measured laser pulse parameters of the laser obtained by firing the laser at a plurality of different pulse repetition frequencies, wherein the pulse equalization pumping curve gradually changes levels from a peak pumping level to a first pumping level and is configured to substantially equalize the one or more laser pulse parameters of the laser among the different pulse repetition frequencies; and generating a series of laser pulses, for each laser pulse in the series: driving, at a rising rate of change, the pump source from a first pumping level to a peak pumping level; driving, at a continuously falling rate of change after initially reaching the peak pumping level, the pump source from the peak pumping level toward the first pumping level according to the gradually changing level of the pulse equalization pumping curve, wherein the pump source is driven based on the rising rate of change so as to initially depart from the first pumping level and initially arrive at the peak pumping level in a first time period, wherein the pump source is driven based on the falling rate of change so as to initially depart from the peak pumping level and initially arrive at the first pumping level according to the selected pulse equalization pumping curve in a second time period, and wherein the second time period is substantially greater than the first time period; and firing the laser to produce a particular laser pulse having the substantially equalized one or more laser pulse parameters.