Method and laser system for generating amplified pulses on demand output laser pulses

摘要

The inventive method for generating amplified output laser pulses (2 ₁ , 2 ₂ , 2 ₃ ) with individually predetermined pulse energies at individually predetermined times (t ₁ , t ₂ , t ₃ ) at an output (3) comprises the following method steps: - Providing a pulse train of input laser pulses (5) with the same pulse energy and in particular with the same time pulse interval (At), which is smaller than the temporal pulse spacing (.DELTA.T ₁ , .DELTA.T ₂ ) between two adjacent output laser pulses (2 ₁ , 2 ₂ , 2 ₃ ); Selecting those input laser pulses (5 ₁ , 5 ₂ , 5 ₃ ) which at the output (3) in each case at the predetermined times (t ₁ , t ₂ , t ₃ ) or closest to the predetermined times (t ₁ , t ₂ , t ₃ ) arrive; Amplifying the selected input laser pulses (5 ₁ , 5 ₂ , 5 ₃ ) by means of an optical amplifier (8) having a predetermined, gain-free minimum time period (T _min ) and a predetermined gain-free maximum time period (T _max ), in which case that the pulse temporal spacing (.DELTA.T ₁₎ between two successive, to be amplified input laser pulses (5 _1, 5 ₂₎ is greater than the maximum time span (T _max) is, before the subsequent one of the consecutive two, to be amplified input laser pulses (5 _1, 5 ₂₎ at least a sacrificial laser pulse (12) which is spaced from the subsequent input pulse (5 ₂ ) to be amplified by at least the minimum time period (T _min ) and at most the maximum time period (T _max ) in the pulse sequence of the selected input laser pulses (5 ₁ , 5 ₂ , 5 ₃ ) and wherein the at least one amplified sacrificial laser pulse (12 ') in front of the output (3) from the pulse sequence of the amplified input pulses (5' ₁ , 5 ' ₂ , 5' ₃ ) is decoupled; and Reducing the pulse energies of the amplified input laser pulses (5 ' ₁ , 5' ₂ , 5 ' ₃ ) to the predetermined pulse energies by time-controlled partial decoupling as a function of their pulse intervals to the immediately preceding, amplified input or sacrificial laser pulse (5' ₁ , 5 ' ₂ , 5 ' ₃ , 12').