摘要 |
An apparatus (100) for generating short optical pulses (109) is provided having a storage medium (113) capable of storing optical energy, a first module (112) for delivering pumping optical pulses or continuous beam into the storage medium (113) to energize the storage medium, and a second module (110) for delivering one or more trigger optical pulses to the optical storage medium (113). Each of the trigger optical pulses has a rising edge which causes a cascade release of the energy stored in the storage medium (113) in an output optical pulse (109) having a greater power and narrower in width or duration (at full width at half maximum) than the trigger optical pulse that caused the output pulse. A control module (111) controls the operation of the pump module (112) and trigger module (110) so as to provide the desired characteristics of output optical pulses (109) from the apparatus (100). |