40 GHz active mode-locking in a 1.5 µm monolithic extended-cavity laser

Abstract

We report active mode locking in a monolithic long-cavity semiconductor laser, operating at 1.5 µm wavelength. Pulses with durations of 4 ps at repetition rates up to 40 GHz have been achieved, with a modulation depth of 97%. This is the first report of active mode locking in a monolithic device, and the highest repetition rate achieved with an actively mode locked laser.