Description

A Q-switched laser is a pulsed laser that produces extremely short and intense bursts of light by controlling the quality factor (Q) of its optical cavity. During operation, the laser medium is pumped while the cavity is maintained at a low Q, preventing light amplification and allowing energy to accumulate in the medium. When the Q of the cavity is suddenly increased, the stored energy is released almost instantaneously as a single, high-power pulse lasting only a few nanoseconds. This technique results in peak powers that are much higher than those of continuous-wave lasers, even though the average power may be relatively low. Because of their ability to deliver concentrated energy in a very short time, Q-switched lasers are widely used in precision material processing, medical treatments such as tattoo and pigment removal, laser ranging, and scientific research.