How to Achieve High Pulsing Frequencies with Lasers

[Tree Penguin]

Hi, just out of curiosity, i heard about a new electron gun (if that's the proper term) using a laser pulsing at about 3.333 x 10e14 Hz to increase the frequency at which the electrons are emitted.

How does the laser reach such pulsing frequencies?

Thanks.

 

[Mk]

The output of a laser may be a continuous, constant-amplitude output (known as CW or continuous wave), or pulsed, by using the techniques of Q-switching, modelocking, or gain-switching. In pulsed operation, much higher peak powers can be achieved.

Read, the three main ways:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q-switching
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modelocking
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gain-switching