A microchip, Q-switched, cavity-dumped laser is end-pumped by VCSEL or a laser diode and comprises an electro-optic Q-switch mechanism actively controlled by photoconductive switches. The fast response time of the system and its small dimension produce short pulses (ten pico-second range), with high energy (uJ range). The microchip structure may be built using planar, wafer-like components such that a high-density array of lasers may be manufactured without tight alignment tolerances, providing efficient power or energy scaling.
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