Abstract
We present the first demonstration of reproducible harmonic mode-locked operation from a novel design of monolithic semiconductor laser comprising a compound cavity formed by a 1-D photonic-bandgap (PBG) mirror. Mode-locking (ML) is achieved at a harmonic of the fundamental round-trip frequency with pulse repetition rates from 131 GHz up to a record high frequency of 2.1 THz. The devices are fabricated from GaAs-Al-GaAs material emitting at a wavelength of 860 nm and incorporate two gain sections with an etched PBG reflector between them, and a saturable absorber section. Autocorrelation studies are reported which allow the device behavior for different ML frequencies, compound cavity ratios, and type and number of intra-cavity reflectors to be analyzed. The highly reflective PBG microstructures are shown to be essential for subharmonic-free ML operation of the high-frequency devices. We have also demonstrated that the single PBG reflector can be replaced by two separate features with lower optical loss. These lasers may find applications in terahertz; imaging, medicine, ultrafast optical links, and atmospheric sensing.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1-11 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2002 |
Bibliographical note
Copyright © 2002 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE.Keywords
- microwave generation
- mode-locked lasers
- optical modulation
- optoelectronic devices
- quantum-well lasers
- semiconductor lasers
- submillimeter wave generation
- submillimeter wave modulation
- WAVE-GUIDE AUTOCORRELATOR
- TEMPERATURE-GROWN GAAS
- SEMICONDUCTOR-LASERS
- FABRY-PEROT
- TERAHERTZ
- MICROSTRUCTURES
- ABSORPTION