The PP-KIT Pulse Picking Developer Kit electronics for pulse picking is an essential developer kit designed to address the critical task of resampling the repetition rate of pulsed lasers. This process, commonly referred to as pulse picking, is particularly vital in the realm of pico- and femtosecond lasers. Typically, seed lasers operate at repetition rates in the range of tens of MHz, often reaching up to 100 MHz or even higher. However, for effective amplification, significantly lower repetition rates, approximately in the tens of kHz range, are required. The pulse picker accomplishes this by applying short voltage pulses to an electro-optical crystal such as RTP, DKDP, or BBO, thereby controlling the polarization state of pulses within the pulse train. This selective modification of single pulse polarization allows further selection by a polarizer.

In a similar fashion, the input and output of pulses into and from the regenerative amplifier can be precisely controlled. The synchronization of the leading edge of the electrical pulse, typically set at a quarter-wave voltage, with the optical pulse as it traverses a specific area, is crucial. The falling edge of the electrical pulse is timed to coincide with the optical pulse's return to the same area, facilitating the release of the optical pulse from the amplifier. This synchronization is achieved through the use of a high voltage switch, such as the HVSW-03, which is capable of producing pulses with exceptionally fast rise and fall times.

A pivotal component in pulse picking applications is the control board, exemplified by the PP-CONTROL, which ensures the precise synchronization of electrical switching with optical pulses. In its simplest form, the control board aligns the sequence of high-voltage pulses relative to the optical pulse train, functioning as either a pulse picker or a regenerative amplifier driver, depending on the configuration of the high voltage switch. In more advanced implementations, the control board manages the entire pico- or femtosecond laser system, integrating one pulse picker and one regenerative amplifier to deliver comprehensive control and efficiency.

The PP-KIT Pulse Picking Developer Kit includes modules such as the HVSW-04 or HVSW-03 Pockels cell drivers and the PP-control synchronization board, providing a robust foundation for developers working in the laser industry to achieve precise and efficient pulse picking.