In continuous laser mode, what does the peak power equal?

In continuous laser mode, the concept of peak power and average power is closely related. Continuous wave (CW) lasers emit a constant output of light over time, which means that the average power measured reflects the actual power being output by the laser continuously.

When discussing peak power in the context of a continuous wave laser, it is crucial to understand that the peak power is typically equal to the average power because the laser produces a steady state of light without significant fluctuations. In this mode, there are no spikes or pulsed outputs that would alter peak power significantly. Therefore, the continuous output power measured over time directly represents both the average and peak power levels.

This steady-state operation ensures that there are no variables that would cause the peak power to be higher or lower than the average power, reinforcing that in continuous laser mode, peak power is synonymous with average power.