PHASE-LOCKED LOOP CONTROL OF PASSIVELY Q-SWITCHED LASERS

摘要

Methods and apparatus for controlling a passively Q-switched laser (PQSL) (2) that use a Q-switched laser as a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) in a phase-locked loop control circuit (10) are disclosed. The PQSL (2) may be optically coupled to a detector (6). The detector (6) may be coupled to an input (11) of a phase lock loop controller (10). A reference oscillator (12) may be coupled to a reference input (13) of the phase lock loop controller (10). An output of the phase lock loop controller (15) may be coupled to an integrator (14). The integrator (14) may be coupled to a means for controlling an amount of power provided to the PQSL.