A simple method for counting the number of trapped ions in an ion trap

A technique is proposed for injection-seeding control of tunable lasers. It is based on a combination of successive external injection and intracavity self-injection of radiation when the active medium is pumped by dual-step pulses. The technique is tested both experimentally (in the case of Nd:YAG-laser-pumped pulsed dye lasers) and numerically, using a model developed by us. Full conversion of the broadband spectrum into the injected line is achieved for an output energy greater by a factor of about 50 than that managed by means of the traditional injection-seeding technique under identical conditions.