Laser pulses are generated using the diode pumped solid state lasers, e.g. Ny-Yag laser. A typical laser pulse can be considered Gaussian in its amplitude distribution in both transverse and longitudinal directions. Figure 10 shows schematic of one such pulse. Here trise is the time taken by pulse to reach 90% amplitude from 10% amplitude. Pulse width is defined as tp, which is the duration between 50% amplitudes in leading and trailing edges of the pulse.
Figure 10: A Gaussian pulse