In laser operation, what does the term 'Pulsed' refer to?

The term 'Pulsed' in the context of laser operation describes a beam that is emitted in bursts. This means that the laser generates light in distinct, intermittent segments rather than in a steady, continuous manner. Pulsed lasers are designed to produce high-energy bursts of light for very short durations, resulting in high peak powers that can be beneficial for various applications, such as in medical procedures or materials processing.

This mode of operation allows for specific advantages, such as minimizing heat transfer to surrounding tissues in medical applications or precisely targeting materials without causing excessive thermal damage. In contrast, other types of laser emissions, such as continuous wave lasers, produce a constant beam output, which is fundamentally different from the mechanism of pulsed lasers.