LASER POWER CONTROL BY CONTROLLING THE Q-SWITCH RF-POWER

摘要

A laser system comprises a pump sourc(24), a laser medium (14), first and second mirrors (18, 16), a Q-switch (20), and a control system (26). The pump source produces input energy. The laser medium converts the input energy to an output beam (11). The first and second mirrors are disposed on opposing sides of the laser medium. The output beam reflects between the first and second mirrors. The first mirror (18) is an output mirror for releasing a pulsed laser beam having an energy level. The Q-switch (20) is made of material that has an alterable optical property in response to a Q-switch input signal. The control system (26) selectively varies the Q-switch input signal to control the energy level of the pulsed laser beam. A first Q-switch input signal produces a pulsed laser beam for a plurality of pulses at a maximum power level, while a second Q-switch input signal produces a pulsed laser beam at an intermediate power level.