Patent ID: 8761212

Claim:
A method for operating a laser device, which has a laser-active solid-state body including a passive Q switch, comprising: applying pumped light to the laser device in order to generate a laser pulse, wherein at least one of the laser device and an optical link between the laser device and a pumped light source supplying the pumped light is at least partially acted upon by an optical test pulse in order to check the integrity of the optical link between the laser device and the pumped light source supplying the pumped light; wherein the test pulse is applied to the laser device, and spontaneously emitted radiation produced in the laser device in response to the test pulse is evaluated; wherein the spontaneously emitted radiation produced in response to the test pulse is transmitted from the laser device to an evaluation device via optical coupling means; wherein the coupling means reflect spontaneously emitted radiation emerging from the laser device into a light-guide device, which is also used for supplying pumped light to the laser device.