AVERAGE POWER equals PEAK POWER for a?

Average power is defined as the total energy output over a specific time period, while peak power refers to the highest power level reached by a laser during its operation, typically during short, intense bursts. In the context of continuous-wave mode, the laser produces a constant output of energy over time.

For a laser operating in continuous-wave mode, the energy output does not vary between pulses, as there are effectively no pulses at all—the laser emits a steady beam. Therefore, the average power is equal to the peak power since there is no fluctuation in the intensity of the beam; both measurements represent the same constant power output.

In contrast, other types of lasers, such as those that are pulsed, will have varying average power and peak power since the peak power occurs only during the brief moments of pulse discharge while the average power accounts for the overall energy emitted during a larger timeframe, including periods of no emission. Thus, the equality of average power and peak power is specific to lasers operating in continuous-wave mode, making it the correct choice.