Abstract

We have produced optical pulses shorter than 6 ps and at repetition rates between 2 and 8 GHz by compressing chirped pulses from gain-switched distributed feedback (DFB) semiconductor diode lasers operating near 1.3 μm. The chirp from a gain- switched DFB laser is approximately linear from blue to red during the portion of peak intensity of the pulse. Hence, by passage through a medium with normal dispersion, the duration of the pulse can be reduced. Previously, pulses from gain-switched single-mode diode lasers were compressed using optical fiber as the medium of normal dispersion.

© 1989 Optical Society of America