Timing jitter in mode-locked and gain-switched InGaAsP injection lasers

Abstract

Pulse-to-pulse timing jitter in both mode-locked and gain-switched InGaAsP injection lasers is characterized. The measured jitter is less than 1 ps and is significantly less than the jitter reported for other laser systems. It is due almost entirely to the jitter in the frequency synthesizer and amplifier that electrically drive the injection laser.