The duration from the start of one laser pulse to the start of the next in a train of pulses. It is the exact inverse of the repetition rate. Engineers measure this interval to time-gate detectors, synchronize pump lasers, or calculate the thermal relaxation time available to a gain medium between shots.
Heard on the job
The repetition time on the Q-switched YAG is 10 milliseconds, which gives the amplifier plenty of time to recover.
Also heard as
- pulse period
Related terms
Rep rate
Clipped form of repetition rate: how many pulses per second a pulsed laser emits.
Pulse duration
How long a laser pulse lasts, normally given as the full width at half maximum of its intensity.
Q-switching
Producing short, intense laser pulses by holding cavity losses high while energy builds up, then suddenly dropping them.