Laser power reduction without mode change

A laser system, comprising:

• a source for producing a constant-wave input energy in response to an input drive signal;
• a laser medium for receiving said input energy and converting said input energy to an output beam;
• first and second mirrors disposed on opposing sides of said laser medium, said output beam reflecting between said first and second mirrors, said first mirror being an output mirror for releasing a pulsed laser beam having an energy level, said laser medium receiving said constant-wave input energy from said source during and between pulses of said pulses laser beam released from said output mirror;
• a Q-switch located between said first and second mirrors and in a path of said output beam, said Q-switch being made of material that has an optical property that is alterable in response to a Q-switch input signal;
• and a control system for controlling said Q-switch input signal and said input-drive signal, said control system decreasing said energy level of a plurality of pulses of said pulsed laser beam at a first frequency by increasing the power of the said Q-switch input signal, said control system increasing said energy level of a plurality of pulses of said pulsed laser beam at said first frequency by decreasing the power of said Q-switch input signal to a power level that is greater than zero.