Patent ID: 7471704

Claim:
A method for controlling a laser, comprising: setting an OFF time value, initializing a counter to cause a laser to emit N laser pulses, continuously irradiating a gain medium with light, thereby turning a Q-switch ON for a first ON time period, turning the Q-switch OFF for a first OFF time period to increase a gain of the laser, turning the Q-switch ON to cause said laser to emit a first of said N laser pulses, turning the Q-switch OFF and ON for N−1 successive cycles to emit N−1 laser pulses, wherein the Q-switch is turned OFF for a second OFF time period to obtain each of the N−1 laser pulses and the second OFF time period is equal to said OFF time value; and passing each of said N laser pulses through an optical modulator to synchronize the generation of each of said N laser pulses with the turning of said Q-switch, wherein the laser comprises adjusting means for varying the duration of said first OFF time period when said Q-switch is ON for a duration longer than the time it takes for said Q-switch to turn from being OFF to ON.