Interplay of classical noise sources in the relaxation oscillations of an Nd:YAG laser

► Fluctuations in the relaxation oscillations of an Nd:YAG laser are investigated. ► Classical pump and loss rate noise dominate the dynamics of the laser start-up. ► Fluctuation timescales are pivotal to determining waveform ensemble structure. ► Slow fluctuations contribute most to the timing jitter of early intensity spikes. ► Rapid fluctuations determine the sloping of peak intensities within an ensemble.