Modelocked semiconductor laser system with pulse picking for variable repetition rate

Abstract

The generation of picosecond pulses from a hybrid modelocked semiconductor master oscillator power amplifier system with a repetition rate as low as 340 kHz is presented. The fundamental repetition rate of the external cavity laser was 348 MHz and is reduced by an integrated ultrafast semiconductor pulse picker element which picks and amplifies only every 2nth pulse. The central wavelength was around 850 nm.