INGAASP MONOLITHIC EXTENDED-CAVITY LASERS WITH INTEGRATED SATURABLE ABSORBERS FOR ACTIVE, PASSIVE, AND HYBRID MODE-LOCKING AT 8.6 GHZ

Active, passive, and hybrid mode locking of a monolithic extended-cavity semiconductor laser with an integrated saturable absorber have been demonstrated. Actively mode locked at a repetition rate of 8.6 GHz, 6.2 ps pulses were measured. Hybrid mode locking resulted in 4.4 ps pulses. The extended-cavity laser also exhibits self-starting passive mode locking at a repetition rate of 8.57 GHz with 5.5 ps pulses. A broad spectrum allows wavelength selectivity over a range of 15 nm with little change in the pulse width.