Continuous Wave, a laser whose output power is constant over time, as opposed to pulsed, Q-switched or mode-locked operation. Average and peak power are the same, so CW lasers are rated in watts and their damage specs in power per unit length or area. Many lasers can run either CW or modulated; quasi-CW means pulses long enough for the laser to reach the same steady state as CW, run at a low duty cycle to cut the heat load.
Run it CW at 2 watts for the alignment, then switch the AOM on and go to 50 kHz pulsed.
Also heard as
- continuous wave
- CW mode
Related terms
Q-switching
Producing short, intense laser pulses by holding cavity losses high while energy builds up, then suddenly dropping them.
Mode locking
Fixing the phases of many longitudinal modes so they add up into a train of ultrashort pulses.
Damage threshold
The maximum fluence or power density an optic can take before it is permanently damaged.
CW breakthrough
A narrow continuous-wave spike in a mode-locked laser's spectrum, showing part of the power is not pulsing.