Abstract

The dynamics of spectral hole burning, gain saturation, and carrier capture in the gain region are important in the design of semiconductor lasers and amplifiers, especially in high-speed applications.¹ Using a femtosecond three-pulse white-light pump-probe technique, we have clearly observed spectral hole burning. The relaxation of the spectral hole and the gain recovery limited by carrier capture are directly observable in our spatially and temporally resolved experiments. The data are consistent with Monte Carlo simulations including carrier-carrier scattering and the Pauli-exclusion principle.

© 1996 Optical Society of America