Patent ID: 6980574

Claim:
A multiple pulse single head laser comprising: a) a laser cavity; b) a lasing medium having a population inversion threshold for lasing located within said cavity; c) a modulator having an on and an off position located within said cavity in optical communication with said lasing medium; d) a pumping source in optical communication with said lasing medium to provide electromagnetic radiation(EMR) to said lasing medium; e) said modulator in said on position inducing a loss in said cavity sufficient to prevent lasing; f) said lasing medium storing energy from said pumping source to create a population inversion in said lasing medium in excess of the lasing threshold of said lasing medium when said modulator is in said on position; g) said modulator in said off position allowing lasing to occur in said cavity; h) a controller in communication with said modulator to turn said modulator from said on position to said off position and vise versa; said controller i) turning said modulator to said on position for a first period of time to store a first predetermined amount of energy in said lasing medium by creating a population inversion in said lasing medium in excess of the lasing threshold of said lasing medium; ii) turning said modulator to said off position for a second predetermined period of time to allow lasing of said lasing medium to produce a first pulse; iii) turning said modulator on before said population inversion in said lasing medium is completely depleted so that a second predetermined amount of energy remains stored in said lasing medium; said first pulse containing a first controlled amount of pulse energy; iv) maintaining said modulator in said on position for a second predetermined period of time approximately equal to a preselected pulse separation; v) turning said modulator to said off position for a third predetermined period of time to allow lasing of said lasing medium to provide a second pulse having a second controlled amount of pulse energy.