The role of measurement of pulse duration and pulse profile for lasers and intense pulsed light sources.

Details of the use of an instrument designed to measure pulse duration and pulse profile of lasers and intense pulsed light sources are described. The unit has been found to provide clarification of pulse timing characteristics of lasers where observed characteristics were at variance with system specification. Also, the unit was found to determine output pulse characteristics of intense pulsed light (IPL) sources where definition of such pulse profiles is typically absent in supplied technical descriptions and where pulse profiles are usually more complex than that of laser systems. These measurements have allowed more accurate determination of safety criteria for the use of such systems.