Method of determining a minimum pulse width for a short pulse laser system

A method for drilling multiple holes using a laser drilling system, comprising:

• determining a minimum pulse width for a pulse laser beam, such that the minimum pulse width accounts for dispersion associated with the pulse laser beam passing through a diffractive optical element;
• generating a pulsed laser beam in accordance with the minimum pulse width;
• passing the pulsed laser beam through the diffractive optical element, thereby separating the pulse laser beam into two or more laser beams;
• directing the two or more laser beams onto a surface of a workpiece, thereby drilling multiple holes into the surface of the workpiece.

A laser drilling system, comprising:

• a laser subsystem operable to project a pulsed laser beam towards an exposed surface of a workpiece;
• a diffractive optical element disposed between the laser subsystem and the workpiece, the diffractive optical element configured to receive the pulsed laser beam from the laser subsystem and operable to partition the laser beam into a plurality of laser drilling beams;
• and
• a means for determining a minimum pulse width for the pulsed laser beam, such that the minimum pulse width accounts for dispersion associated with the pulsed laser beam passing though the diffractive optical element.