A regenerative amplifier includes a gain-medium that is optically pumped
by CW radiation. The amplifier has primary resonator for amplifying
pulses. The primary resonator has an optical switch for opening and
closing the primary resonator. The amplifier has a secondary resonator
that includes the gain-medium and a selectively variable attenuator, but
not the optical switch. The optical switch and the variable attenuator
are cooperatively controlled in response to repeated trigger-signals such
that the amplifier delivers corresponding amplified pulses each having
about the same energy independent of repetition frequency of the signals
below some predetermined value.