An apparatus (such as a laser-based system) and method for providing optical pulses in a broad range of pulse widths and pulse energies uses a pulse slicer which is configured to slice a predefined portion having a desired pulse width of each of the one or more output optical pulses from a laser oscillator, in which timings of a rising edge and a falling edge of each sliced optical pulse relative to a time instance of a maximum of the corresponding each of the one or more output optical pulses from the laser oscillator, are chosen at least to maximize amplification efficiency of the optical amplifier, which may be located after the pulse slicer, and to provide the one or more amplified output optical pulses each having the desired pulse energy and pulse width.

An apparatus (such as a laser-based system) and method for providing optical pulses in a broad range of pulse widths and pulse energies uses a pulse slicer which is configured to slice a predefined portion having a desired pulse width of each of the one or more output optical pulses from a laser oscillator, in which timings of a rising edge and a falling edge of each sliced optical pulse relative to a time instance of a maximum of the corresponding each of the one or more output optical pulses from the laser oscillator, are chosen at least to maximize amplification efficiency of the optical amplifier, which may be located after the pulse slicer, and to provide the one or more amplified output optical pulses each having the desired pulse energy and pulse width.

Disclosed herein is a single pulse laser apparatus that includes: a resonator having a first mirror, a second mirror, a gain medium, an electro-optic modulator (EOM) configured to perform single pulse switching, and an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) configured to perform mode-locking; a photodiode configured to measure a laser beam oscillated in the resonator; a synchronizer configured to convert an electrical signal, which is generated by measuring the laser beam, into a transistor-transistor logic (TTL) signal; a delay unit configured to set a delay time for the TTL signal to synchronize the EOM and the AOM and output a trigger TTL signal according to the delay time; an AOM driver configured to input the trigger TTL signal to the AOM that performs mode-locking and drive the AOM; and an EOM driver configured to input the trigger TTL signal to the EOM that performs single pulse switching and drive the EOM.

Disclosed herein is a single pulse laser apparatus that includes: a resonator having a first mirror, a second mirror, a gain medium, an electro-optic modulator (EOM) configured to perform single pulse switching, and an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) configured to perform mode-locking; a photodiode configured to measure a laser beam oscillated in the resonator; a synchronizer configured to convert an electrical signal, which is generated by measuring the laser beam, into a transistor-transistor logic (TTL) signal; a delay unit configured to set a delay time for the TTL signal to synchronize the EOM and the AOM and output a trigger TTL signal according to the delay time; an AOM driver configured to input the trigger TTL signal to the AOM that performs mode-locking and drive the AOM; and an EOM driver configured to input the trigger TTL signal to the EOM that performs single pulse switching and drive the EOM.

A laser beam combining and power scaling device and method. A first highly reflective mirror residing perpendicular to the first optical axis reflecting radiation emitted from the first laser head. A first Q-switch in alignment with the first optical axis interposed between the first highly reflective mirror and the first laser head. A second highly reflective mirror residing perpendicular to the second optical axis reflecting radiation emitted from the second laser head. The second Q-switch in alignment with the second optical axis is interposed between the second highly reflective mirror and the first laser head. A third optical axis is coincident with the first optical axis. A third highly reflective mirror residing perpendicular to the third optical axis in alignment therewith. The third optical axis may include a third diode pumped laser head and Q-switch. A beam splitter resides at the intersection of the axes.

A laser beam combining and power scaling device and method. A first highly reflective mirror residing perpendicular to the first optical axis reflecting radiation emitted from the first laser head. A first Q-switch in alignment with the first optical axis interposed between the first highly reflective mirror and the first laser head. A second highly reflective mirror residing perpendicular to the second optical axis reflecting radiation emitted from the second laser head. The second Q-switch in alignment with the second optical axis is interposed between the second highly reflective mirror and the first laser head. A third optical axis is coincident with the first optical axis. A third highly reflective mirror residing perpendicular to the third optical axis in alignment therewith. The third optical axis may include a third diode pumped laser head and Q-switch. A beam splitter resides at the intersection of the axes.

In a laser device and a photoacoustic measurement device including the laser device, the intensity of light at each wavelength made independently controllable. The laser device includes a laser medium which has oscillation wavelengths at a first wavelength and a second wavelength with higher light emission efficiency than at the first wavelength, an excitation section, a first resonator, a second resonator, a Q-value change unit, and a control section. The control section oscillates light having the first wavelength through Q switching when a first delay time has elapsed after the excitation of the laser medium has been started in a case where the oscillation wavelength is the first wavelength, and oscillates light having the second wavelength through Q switching when a second delay time has elapsed after the excitation of the laser medium has been started in a case where the oscillation wavelength is the second wavelength.

In a laser device and a photoacoustic measurement device including the laser device, the intensity of light at each wavelength made independently controllable. The laser device includes a laser medium which has oscillation wavelengths at a first wavelength and a second wavelength with higher light emission efficiency than at the first wavelength, an excitation section, a first resonator, a second resonator, a Q-value change unit, and a control section. The control section oscillates light having the first wavelength through Q switching when a first delay time has elapsed after the excitation of the laser medium has been started in a case where the oscillation wavelength is the first wavelength, and oscillates light having the second wavelength through Q switching when a second delay time has elapsed after the excitation of the laser medium has been started in a case where the oscillation wavelength is the second wavelength.

A resonating optical amplifier includes a laser pump cavity defined by a first mirror and a second mirror with a laser pump gain medium configured within a first portion of the laser pump cavity and a Raman amplifier within a second portion of the laser pump cavity. A circulating pump-laser light is introduced to the laser pump gain medium forming a pump signal that is configured to bi-directionally propagate along a beam path within the laser pump cavity. The Raman amplifier is positioned in line with the beam path of the pump signal and operable to impart gain on a seed pulse. The seed pulse and the pump signal are co-aligned and linearly polarized.

A resonating optical amplifier includes a laser pump cavity defined by a first mirror and a second mirror with a laser pump gain medium configured within a first portion of the laser pump cavity and a Raman amplifier within a second portion of the laser pump cavity. A circulating pump-laser light is introduced to the laser pump gain medium forming a pump signal that is configured to bi-directionally propagate along a beam path within the laser pump cavity. The Raman amplifier is positioned in line with the beam path of the pump signal and operable to impart gain on a seed pulse. The seed pulse and the pump signal are co-aligned and linearly polarized.