High-energy picosecond pulse generation by gain switching in asymmetric waveguide structure multiple quantum well lasers

TY - JOUR

T1 - High-energy picosecond pulse generation by gain switching in asymmetric waveguide structure multiple quantum well lasers

AU - Huikari, Jaakko M T

AU - Avrutin, Eugene A.

AU - Ryvkin, Boris S.

AU - Nissinen, Jan J.

AU - Kostamovaara, Juha Tapio

PY - 2015/11/1

Y1 - 2015/11/1

N2 - A multiple quantum well laser diode utilizing an asymmetric waveguide structure with a large equivalent spot size of ∼3 μm is shown to give high energy (∼1 nJ) and short (∼100 ps) isolated optical pulses when injected with <10 A and ∼1-ns current pulses realized with a MOS driver. The active dimensions of the laser diode are 30 μm (stripe width) and 3 mm (cavity length), and it works in a single transversal mode at a wavelength of ∼0.8 μm. Detailed investigation of the laser behavior at elevated temperatures is conducted; it is shown that at high enough injection currents, lasers of the investigated type show low temperature sensitivity. Laser diodes of this type may find use in accurate and miniaturized laser radars utilizing single photon detection in the receiver.

AB - A multiple quantum well laser diode utilizing an asymmetric waveguide structure with a large equivalent spot size of ∼3 μm is shown to give high energy (∼1 nJ) and short (∼100 ps) isolated optical pulses when injected with <10 A and ∼1-ns current pulses realized with a MOS driver. The active dimensions of the laser diode are 30 μm (stripe width) and 3 mm (cavity length), and it works in a single transversal mode at a wavelength of ∼0.8 μm. Detailed investigation of the laser behavior at elevated temperatures is conducted; it is shown that at high enough injection currents, lasers of the investigated type show low temperature sensitivity. Laser diodes of this type may find use in accurate and miniaturized laser radars utilizing single photon detection in the receiver.

KW - Gain switching

KW - Laser radar

KW - Optical Pulses

KW - Quantum Well lasers

KW - Semiconductor lasers

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84958225233&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1109/JSTQE.2015.2416342

DO - 10.1109/JSTQE.2015.2416342

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84958225233

SN - 1077-260X

VL - 21

JO - IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics

JF - IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics

IS - 6

M1 - 7067351

ER -