Patent ID: 8811440

Claim:
A system for producing output laser pulses, comprising: a laser having an optical cavity including a movable optical component, such that moving the optical component changes the length of the optical cavity, the laser pre-lasing when power in the optical cavity reaches a pre-lasing threshold and lasing when power in the optical cavity reaches a lasing threshold; an actuator for positioning the optical component within a predetermined range; a variable attenuator in the optical cavity for limiting the rate at which power in the laser increases and thus controlling the times at which the pre-lasing and lasing thresholds are reached and the time at which the output pulse is released; a sensor for measuring the output power of the laser at a given moment; a computing device for calculating the time delay from the release of an output pulse to the time the pre-lasing threshold is again reached; and a first feedback loop having a first controller for causing the actuator to position the optical component so that the calculated time delay from the release of an output pulse to the time the pre-lasing threshold is again reached is at a minimum.