Abstract

The prospect of new optoelectronic devices such as travelling wave amplifiers and all-optical switches based on ultrafast optical nonlinearities in semiconductors is intriguing. Development of such devices requires knowledge of their ultrafast gain and refractive-index dynamics. Subpicosecond-gain dynamics in AlGaAs diode lasers have been studied previously¹ and have yielded interesting results about fundamental carrier dynamics in these devices. To complete the picture, it is important to investigate the corresponding refractive-index dynamics. We report the results of pump-probe measurements of optically induced subpicosecond refractive index changes in an AlGaAs diode laser. For completeness and comparison, measurements of ultrafast gain dynamics are also presented.

© 1991 Optical Society of America