Wavelength Tunable Sources of Subpicosecond Pulses from CW Passively Mode Locked Two-Section Multiple Quantum Well Laser

Abstract-A wavelength tunable passively mode-locked semi-conductor laser source of subpicosecond pulses is demonstrated. The system includes a two-section multiple-quantum-well laser which is coupled to an external grating for tuning and is followed by an external grating pair for pulse compression. A tuning range of 16 nm around 846 nm is obtained, resulting in compressed pulse widths as short as 260 fs and pulse widths shorter than 600 fs for all wavelength values within this tuning range. Time bandwidth products are one to two times the transform limit. E usefulness of a mode-locked laser is limited in put centered at a desired wavelength. It has previously been demonstrated that a semiconductor laser coupled to an external cavity and followed by an external grating compressor can be used to generate stable pulse trains o