Abstract: A method for thermal processing of a workpiece uses a thermal processing machine. The method includes the following steps carried out in an automated manner: setting up the processing machine by producing contact between the processing tool and the workpiece and recording the spatial position of a workpiece surface, positioning the processing tool at a predetermined first and second distance from the workpiece surface and recording the associated signal values of the distance sensor as first and second measured values, and calibrating the distance controller which includes determining a height derivative of the distance sensor signal and an amplification factor for the signal of the distance sensor taking in account the first measured value, the second measured value, the first distance and the second distance; positioning the processing tool at a predetermined working distance from the workpiece surface with the inclusion of the amplification factor; and thermally processing the workpiece.

Abstract: Even in the case of variations in the pulse repetition frequency, a solid-state laser generates laser pulses with constant beam characteristics in such a way that when the pulse repetition frequency of the laser pulses is varied the pulse duty factor of the pumping radiation is kept constant and Q switching is triggered in each case at a prescribed period after the start of the pumping pulse.

Abstract: A solid state laser, especially a solid state laser pumped by laser diodes (3b, 3c) comprises a polarizing beam splitter (5) to couple out from the resonant cavity some part (11) of the radiation energy. An electro-optic modulator (Pockels' cell) (4) serving as couple-out modulator is adjusted such that the ratio of the pulse energy of the laser beam pulses (10) emitted to the coupled-out part (11) of the radiation energy is variable and thus the pulse energy is adjustable by keeping the pulse duration constant.

Abstract: A Q-switched solid-state laser has a narrow-band laser diode (18) whose narrow-band output radiation serves as seed radiation for exciting a solid (14), with the result that only a single wavelength-stable longitudinal mode oscillates in the resonator (10, 12) of the solid-state laser and corresponding radiation (16) is emitted.