Thorlabs Releases New Picosecond Microchip Laser With Material Processing Capabilities Thorlabs has announced the release of a new passively Q-switched laser producing 500 ps pulses centered at 1030 nm. The microjoule-level pulse energies produced at kHz-repetition rates will allow for multiple applications including material processing, harmonic generation, LIDAR, photoacoustic imaging, and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. A fiber-coupled pump source within the head produces exceptional beam quality for efficient micromachining applications. With a compact footprint measuring just 3.00” x 5.37” (76.2 mm x 136.3 mm) and taps for 30 mm cage system compatibility, this laser can be conveniently integrated into an existing system and paired with any number of Thorlabs’ cage-mounted components, including optics, motorized shutters, and galvo scanners. This turn-key solution includes custom temperature control and laser drive electronics incorporated in a separate control unit for optimized stability and performance. For pulse monitoring an SMA trigger out is provided on the laser head for clocking simultaneous events with pulse production.