Laser comprising a loop resonator

A method for creating a laser pulse from a laser, wherein the laser comprises:

• a loop resonator forming a closed loop light path, wherein the loop resonator comprises an optical gain medium configured to lase, and wherein the loop resonator is configured to, during lasing, present a pair of modes:
• a mode of light propagating in a clockwise direction in the closed loop light path of the loop resonator termed CW mode;
• and
• a mode of light propagating in a counter-clockwise direction in the closed loop light path of the loop resonator, termed CCW mode;
• a first light output, configured to output laser light from the laser;
• and
• an optical power modulating unit configured to modulate:
• an optical power of the CW mode of the loop resonator;
• and
• an optical power of the CCW mode of the loop resonator,
• wherein the method comprises:
• generating, by the optical power modulating unit:
• a first power modulation pulse, wherein the power modulating pulse is a change in optical power of the CW mode of the loop resonator, and wherein the change in optical power of the CW mode of the loop resonator has a positive or negative sign;
• and
• a second power modulation pulse, wherein the second power modulation pulse is a change in optical power of the CCW mode of the loop resonator, and wherein the change in optical power of the CCW mode of the loop resonator has a positive or negative sign, and
• when generating the first power modulation pulse and the second power modulation pulse, setting a timing of the first power modulation pulse and the second power modulation pulse such that the first power modulation pulse and the second power modulation pulse at least partially overlap in time;
• and
• setting the sign of the change in optical power of the first power modulation pulse opposite to the sign of the change in optical power of the second power modulation pulse,
• whereby the laser pulse is created by the laser at the first light output while a change in a total optical power in the loop resonator is mitigated and a chirp of the laser pulse is reduced.