What are Nanosecond Lasers?

A nanosecond laser is a type of ultrashort pulse laser that emits laser pulses with a duration of nanoseconds (10^-12 seconds). Nanosecond lasers use the Q-switching or gain switching technique used to generate the short laser pulses in the range of nanoseconds. The nanosecond lasers operate at wavelengths from the ultraviolet through to the infrared region. They usually produces a pulse energy from nJ to J and support pulse repetition rates from Hz to MHz. They are ideal for use in medical, LIDAR & sensing, scientific, material processing, instrumentation,  and remote sensing applications.

In Q-switching techniques, the generation of energetic short duration (nanoseconds) pulses is obtained from a laser by modulating the intracavity losses, i.e., by alternatively switching the Q factor of the laser resonator (between low Q to high Q & high Q to low Q with some duration). The Q-switched lasers emit laser pulse with higher energies (millijoules).

In the gain-switching technique, the generation of energetic short duration (nanoseconds) pulses is obtained from a laser by modulating the laser gain. The gain-switched fiber-coupled semiconductor laser acts as the seed source for fiber amplifiers. The gain-switched lasers emit laser pulse with lower energies. 

Specifications of nanosecond lasers

Technology: Q-switched or gain-switching

Wavelength: Represents the wavelength of laser light emitted from the nanosecond laser. These lasers are available in deep UV range (300 nm to 200 nm) to the IR range. The wavelength is represented in a nanometer (nm).

Tunable: Represents the wavelength tune-ability of the nanosecond laser. Both the tuneable and non-tuneable nanosecond lasers are available.

Fiber-coupled: The nanosecond lasers are available both in fiber couple or non-fiber coupled choices.

Operation mode: Pulsed laser

Laser color: Represents the laser colour. The nanosecond lasers are available from deep UV to the IR spectrum.

Mode: Represents the mode of operation of laser light. Both the single-mode and multi-mode  nanosecond lasers are available.

Power: Represents the power output of the nanosecond laser. It can have a range of milliwatts to kilowatts range.

Pulse width: Represents the pulse duration of the nanosecond laser. The duration of pulse range is in a nanosecond (10^-9 s) range.

Pulse energy: Represents the pulse energy of the nanosecond lasers. Usually, it is in the range from µJ to J (joule) range.

Ultrafast laser: The nanosecond laser with pulse width is in a nanosecond (10^-9 s) range is called an ultrafast laser.

Beam divergence: Represents the divergence of the laser. Usually, it is represented in milliradian (mrad).