self-pulsation

noun

A transient phenomenon in continuous-wave lasers. As the pump is switched on, the gain in the active medium rises and exceeds the steady-state value. The number of photons in the cavity increases, depleting the gain below the steady-state value, and so on. The laser pulsates; the output power at the peaks can be orders of magnitude larger than that between pulses. The amplitude then gradually reduces and decays.

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Meanings

nounself-pulsation (countable and uncountable, plural self-pulsations)

plural self-pulsations

  1. countableuncountablenatural sciencesA transient phenomenon in continuous-wave lasers. As the pump is switched on, the gain in the active medium rises and exceeds the steady-state value. The number of photons in the cavity increases, depleting the gain below the steady-state value, and so on. The laser pulsates; the output power at the peaks can be orders of magnitude larger than that between pulses. The amplitude then gradually reduces and decays.
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: self-pulsation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.