Abstract: A device may include a transient optical amplifier having stored energy associated with a lower boundary and an upper boundary of a dynamic equilibrium, and a target level defining stored energy for amplifying a high energy input pulse to a higher energy output pulse. The device may include a pump to increase the amplifier's stored energy, and a source to pass low energy control pulses or the high energy input pulse to the amplifier. The device may include a controller configured to maintain the amplifier's stored energy in the dynamic equilibrium by requesting low energy control pulses for the amplifier at a high repetition frequency. The controller may wait to receive a trigger. Based on receiving the trigger, the device may stop passing low energy control pulses to the amplifier, and may pass the high energy input pulse to the amplifier when the amplifier's stored energy reaches the target level.

Abstract: A machining process, associated with a workpiece, may include controlling, by a control device, a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of an ultrashort pulse laser. The PRF may be controlled to maintain a substantially constant distance, on the workpiece, between adjacent pulses on a path. The substantially constant distance may be maintained despite changes in a speed of the path relative to the workpiece. An amount of energy of each pulse on the path may be substantially constant despite changes to the PRF associated with controlling the PRF.

Abstract: A device may include a transient optical amplifier having stored energy associated with a lower boundary and an upper boundary of a dynamic equilibrium, and a target level defining stored energy for amplifying a high energy input pulse to a higher energy output pulse. The device may include a pump to increase the amplifier's stored energy, and a source to pass low energy control pulses or the high energy input pulse to the amplifier. The device may include a controller configured to maintain the amplifier's stored energy in the dynamic equilibrium by requesting low energy control pulses for the amplifier at a high repetition frequency. The controller may wait to receive a trigger. Based on receiving the trigger, the device may stop passing low energy control pulses to the amplifier, and may pass the high energy input pulse to the amplifier when the amplifier's stored energy reaches the target level.

Abstract: A device may include a transient optical amplifier having stored energy associated with a lower boundary and an upper boundary of a dynamic equilibrium, and a target level defining stored energy for amplifying a high energy input pulse to a higher energy output pulse. The device may include a pump to increase the amplifier's stored energy, and a source to pass low energy control pulses or the high energy input pulse to the amplifier. The device may include a controller configured to maintain the amplifier's stored energy in the dynamic equilibrium by requesting low energy control pulses for the amplifier at a high repetition frequency. The controller may wait to receive a trigger. Based on receiving the trigger, the device may stop passing low energy control pulses to the amplifier, and may pass the high energy input pulse to the amplifier when the amplifier's stored energy reaches the target level.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating electromagnetic radiation pulses comprises a mode-locked laser oscillator with an oscillator cavity defining an oscillator beam path, a first gain element, first pumping means for pumping said first gain element, and a mode locker, and being operable to produce a train of seed electromagnetic radiation pulses. Further an optical switch is placed outside of the oscillator beam path and is arranged in a beam path of radiation coupled out from the oscillator, the optical switch operable to couple radiation from a switch input into a switch output during a certain time period or certain time periods. A radiation amplifier is arranged in a beam path of radiation radiated from the switch output. The amplifier includes a second gain element and second pumping means, the second pumping means comprising a continuous-wave pump radiation source.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating electromagnetic radiation pulses comprises a mode-locked laser oscillator with an oscillator cavity defining an oscillator beam path, a first gain element, first pumping means for pumping said first gain element, and a mode locker, and being operable to produce a train of seed electromagnetic radiation pulses. Further an optical switch is placed outside of the oscillator beam path and is arranged in a beam path of radiation coupled out from the oscillator, the optical switch operable to couple radiation from a switch input into a switch output during a certain time period or certain time periods. A radiation amplifier is arranged in a beam path of radiation radiated from the switch output. The amplifier includes a second gain element and second pumping means, the second pumping means comprising a continuous-wave pump radiation source.