Q-switching

noun

A technique by which a laser can be made to produce a pulsed output beam, with much higher power in each pulse than would be produced when operating as a continuous wave.

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Meanings

nounQ-switching (uncountable)
  1. uncountableA technique by which a laser can be made to produce a pulsed output beam, with much higher power in each pulse than would be produced when operating as a continuous wave.
verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of Q-switch

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
q-spoiling

Origin

The Q stands for the quality factor of the resonator on the laser, which is altered in order to produce the pulse.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Q-switching. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Q-switching

MLA

“Q-switching.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Q-switching. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Q-switching,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Q-switching.

Source: Q-switching on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.