Abstract

Mode-locked semiconductor-diode lasers are, in principle, capable of emitting trains of very short optical pulses. Such sources would be ideal for future pulse-modulated high-speed optical communications systems, and much effort has been devoted to understanding the physical principles involved in mode locking these lasers. A fundamental problem has been the identification and characterization of a suitable saturable absorber element. We describe the use of a multiple-quantum-well (MQW) structure to produce the first reported stable passive mode locking of a diode laser with an external saturable absorber element.

© 1984 Optical Society of America