| 摘要 |
<p>A method for use in controlling a passively Q-switched laser apparatus (110) comprises triggering pumping of a passively Q-switched laser apparatus at a pump trigger time, measuring an emission delay between the pump trigger time and a time of emission of a Q-switched optical pulse from the laser apparatus. The method further comprises using the measured emission delay and a target time for the emission of a further Q-switched optical pulse from the laser apparatus to determine a further pump trigger time. The method may be used for improving the timing of emission of Q-switched optical pulses and may, in particular, serve to suppress pulse-to-pulse timing jitter in particular, though not exclusively, for laser target designation. The laser comprises an end mirror (122), an active gain medium (126), a passive Q-switch (128), an output coupler (124), a beam splitter (146), a photodetector 144), the electrical signal (148) of which is evaluated by a controller (140). The controller provides information to the laser diode driver (132) which drives the laser diode (130) emitting light (136) for pumping the active gain (126). Jitter in the repetition rate of the passively Q-switched laser can be reduced by pump power control.</p> |
