Laser systems and methods for providing high-frequency and low-frequency laser pulse trains

A method of operating a laser system, the method comprising:

• generating, by an excitation laser of the laser system, laser pulses in a low-frequency laser pulse train with a pulse repetition rate of individual pulses in the low-frequency laser pulse train of less than 0.5 GHz and at least 0.01 MHz;
• generating, by a high frequency laser pulse source of the laser system, a GHz laser pulse train with a pulse repetition rate of individual pulses in the GHz laser pulse train of at least 0.5 GHz and at most 100 GHz, wherein the high frequency laser pulse source comprises a repetition rate multiplier;
• switching a beam switchover device of the laser system into a high-frequency functional position to guide at least one GHz laser pulse train from the high frequency laser pulse source to a target position, wherein the beam switchover device comprises a beam distributor configured to split laser light of the excitation laser temporally or spatially or both temporally and spatially between two beam sections comprising a section of the high frequency laser pulse source and an individual pulse section;
• and
• switching the beam switchover device into a low-frequency functional position to guide at least one low-frequency laser pulse train from the excitation laser to the target position,
• wherein switching the beam switchover device into the high-frequency functional position and the low-frequency functional position is in order, and
• wherein the beam switchover device further comprises a beam selector configured to:
• a) feed to the target position the at least one GHz laser pulse train from the section of the high frequency laser pulse source in the high-frequency functional position, and b) feed to the target position the at least one low-frequency laser pulse train from the individual pulse section in the low-frequency functional position.

A laser system, comprising:

• an excitation laser configured to generate laser pulses in a low-frequency laser pulse train with a pulse repetition rate of individual pulses in the low-frequency laser pulse train of less than 0.5 GHz and at least 0.01 MHz;
• a high frequency laser pulse source configured to generate a GHz laser pulse train with a pulse repetition rate of individual pulses in the GHz laser pulse train of at least 0.5 GHz and at most 100 GHz, wherein the high frequency laser pulse source comprises a repetition rate multiplier;
• an amplifier configured to amplify laser light;
• and
• a beam switchover device configured to be switched:
• a) in a high-frequency functional position to guide at least one GHz laser pulse train from the high frequency laser pulse source to a target position, and
• b) in a low-frequency functional position to guide at least one low-frequency laser pulse train from the excitation laser to the target position,
• wherein the beam switchover device is configured to be switched in order in the high-frequency functional position and the low-frequency functional position, and
• wherein the beam switchover device comprises:
• a beam distributor configured to split laser light of the excitation laser temporally or spatially or both temporally and spatially between two beam sections comprising a section of the high frequency laser pulse source and an individual pulse section, and
• a beam selector configured to:
• a) feed to target position at least one GHz laser pulse train from the section of the high frequency laser pulse source in the high-frequency functional position, and b) feed to the target position the at least one low-frequency laser pulse train from the individual pulse section in the low-frequency functional position.