F Quinlan et al 2009 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 11 103001 doi:10.1088/1464-4258/11/10/103001
F Quinlan1, S Ozharar2, S Gee3 and P J Delfyett
Show affiliationsRecent experimental work on semiconductor-based harmonically mode-locked lasers geared toward low noise applications is reviewed. Active, harmonic mode-locking of semiconductor-based lasers has proven to be an excellent way to generate 10 GHz repetition rate pulse trains with pulse-to-pulse timing jitter of only a few femtoseconds without requiring active feedback stabilization. This level of timing jitter is achieved in long fiberized ring cavities and relies upon such factors as low noise rf sources as mode-lockers, high optical power, intracavity dispersion management and intracavity phase modulation. When a high finesse etalon is placed within the optical cavity, semiconductor-based harmonically mode-locked lasers can be used as optical frequency comb sources with 10 GHz mode spacing. When active mode-locking is replaced with regenerative mode-locking, a completely self-contained comb source is created, referenced to the intracavity etalon.
42.55.Px Semiconductor lasers; laser diodes
42.60.Mi Dynamical laser instabilities; noisy laser behavior
42.60.Da Resonators, cavities, amplifiers, arrays, and rings
42.60.Fc Modulation, tuning, and mode locking
42.65.Re Ultrafast processes; optical pulse generation and pulse compression
Issue 10 (October 2009)
Received 6 February 2009, accepted for publication 12 June 2009
Published 6 August 2009
F Quinlan et al 2009 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 11 103001
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