Feature
Modelocked Semiconductor Lasers: Short Pulse, Small Package!
D.J. Derickson, R.J. Helkey, A. Mar, J.G. Wasserbauer, W.B. Jiang and J.E. Bowers
Researchers have long recognized the potential for short pulse generation using the semiconductor laser medium. Soon after room temperature CW operation in semiconductor lasers was obtained, the first reported
modelocking results occurred in the early 1970s. Like dye lasers or Ti:sapphire lasers, the gain-bandwidth of
semiconductor lasers can span many THz, allowing the generation
of femtosecond optical pulses. With the use of semiconductor
materials, modelocked lasers are now important in many applications that were previously infeasible or uneconomical.
Publish Date: 01 May 1992