Peak Power Calculator
Pulse energy, duration and peak power of a pulsed laser from average power, repetition rate and duty cycle, for rectangular, Gaussian and sech² pulses.
Educational only — not compliance-grade
These pages implement the published exposure limits for the cases each one states, but they are educational tools: no laser safety officer has signed them off.
- Do not use these results alone for PPE selection, NHZ / NOHD approval, controlled-area sign-off, enclosure/interlock approval, or formal classification.
- Always verify against ANSI Z136.1, IEC 60825-1, your local procedures, and the responsible laser safety officer / CLSO.
Pulse Energy
125.0 nJ
Pulse Duration (FWHM)
12.50 ps
Peak/Avg Ratio (rectangular)
1000×
Peak Power, Rectangular
10.00 kW
Peak Power, Gaussian
9.394 kW
Peak Power, sech²
8.814 kW
E = Pavg / f, τ = D / f, Ppeak = k · E / τ = k · Pavg / D
D is the duty cycle (the percentage above divided by 100) and τ the pulse duration at half maximum. The shape factor k is 1 for a rectangular pulse, 2√(ln 2/π) = 0.9394 for a Gaussian pulse and ln(1+√2) = 0.8814 for a sech² pulse. At D = 100 % the peak power equals the average power.
Model and references
Exact. The equations are exact within the stated assumptions, or are a standard's tabulated values. The results are as good as the inputs. About the tiers
E = P/f, τ = D/f and P_peak = P/D for rectangular pulses; Gaussian and sech² pulses of the same FWHM peak at 0.939 and 0.881 E/τ. Not modelled: pulse pedestals or an MPE comparison.
- Diels J.-C., Rudolph W. (2006). Ultrashort Laser Pulse Phenomena, 2nd ed., ch. 1 (Fundamentals): pulse shapes and their FWHM. Academic Press. doi:10.1016/b978-012215493-5/50002-1