LASER APPARATUS
The present invention relates to a laser apparatus having a structure for easily shortening a pulse. In the laser apparatus, as a result of a phase control unit adjusting a modulation period of an external modulator and an output period of pulsed light of a seed light source, it is possible to generate pulsed light which is outputted only during a period when the modulation period and the output period overlap each other.
1 . A laser apparatus, comprising:
a light source which outputs pulsed light during a predetermined output period;
an optical modulator which outputs the pulsed light inputted from the light source thereto during a predetermined modulation period;
a control unit which controls a pulse width of the pulsed light outputted from the optical modulator, by adjusting the output period of the light source and the modulation period of the optical modulator; and
a final amplifier which amplifies light outputted from the optical modulator.
2 . The laser apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate amplifier provided between the light source and the optical modulator,
wherein the intermediate amplifier amplifies the pulsed light outputted from the light source, and outputs the amplified pulsed light toward the optical modulator so that the amplified pulsed light is inputted to the optical modulator.
3 . The laser apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the intermediate amplifier is configured from a plurality of amplifiers.
4 . The laser apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate amplifier provided between the optical modulator and the final amplifier,
wherein the intermediate amplifier amplifies the pulsed light outputted from the optical modulator, and outputs the amplified pulsed light toward the final amplifier so that the amplified pulsed light is inputted to the final amplifier.
5 . The laser apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit changes the pulse width of the pulsed light outputted from the optical modulator, by adjusting a period when the output period of the light source and the modulation period of the optical modulator overlap each other.
6 . The laser apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the final amplifier includes an amplification optical fiber, and a pumping light source for supplying pumping light to the amplification optical fiber, and
wherein the laser light source includes a current control unit for controlling a current to be supplied to the pumping light source based on the pulse width of the pulsed light controlled by the control unit.
7 . The laser apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the output period of the light source is set to be delayed from the modulation period in a state where a part of the output period of the light source overlaps the modulation period of the optical modulator.