InnoLas Laser, Krailling, Germany, has released a new compact high repetition-rate, short-pulse solid-state laser source offering sub-nanosecond operation with high energy in UV, visible, and near infrared.

The InnoLas picolo AOT series comprise oscillator and oscillator/amplifier (MOPA) units, operating from 0-100 kHz pulse rate, to >100 μJ pulse energy, and >100 kW peak power. Proprietary high-speed switching technology allows the electro-optical Q-switched laser products to deliver kHz pulses below 1 nanosecond duration, synchronizable to external events with sub-nanosecond accuracy. The picolo AOT's laser pulses are an order-of-magnitude (or more) shorter than from competitive technology, the firm claims.

Shorter, more intense laser pulses are desirable in a range of industrial laser applications. In precision processing and marking, shorter interaction time reduces heating effects and improves quality. For certain nonlinear harmonic and parametric processes, the high intensity of the short laser pulses results in high conversion efficiency.