Targeting steady states in a laser

The targeting method recently proposed by Lippi et al. to shorten lengthy transients in separable systems has been experimentally implemented in the particular case of a solid-state laser. It allows to reduce the intensity transient of a Nd³⁺:YVO₄ laser by a factor of 60 and its duration by a factor in excess of 10 without altering the system. This process is extremely sensitive to targeting parameters due to the stiffness of the system. Internal noise sets a practical limit on the achievable squeezing of transients.