First created by Theodore Maiman, for 10 points, name these devices that amplify light and produce a stimulated emission of photons.
A saturable absorber is used in Passive mode-locking, which is one of three types of mode-locking, or Q-switching, used on these objects to change their pulses. They can come in an excepilex form and produce population inversion when they (*) excite particles by pumping. The "free-electron" variants of these devices go through namesake "cavities" and propel electrons near the speed of light. First created by Theodore Maiman, for 10 points, name these devices that amplify light and produce a stimulated emission of photons.
A saturable absorber is used in Passive mode-locking, which is one of three types of mode-locking, or Q-switching, used on these objects to change their pulses.
{laser} [or {L}ight {A}mplification by {S}timulated {E}mission of {R}adiation] [MB]