Generation of 290 fs pulses at 1.3 μm by hybrid mode-locking of a semiconductor laser and optimization of the time-bandwidth product

Abstract

With hybrid mode-locking of an ion-implanted semiconductor laser in an external cavity and subsequent chirp compensation, 290 fs pulses at 1.3 μm are generated. Due to the nonlinear chirp component, the time-bandwidth product is a factor of 2.3 above the Fourier limit. Using a folded grating-mirror cavity, the nonlinear chirp is effectively suppressed, leading to 1.6 ps pulses with a time-bandwidth product only 12% above the theoretical limit. The influence of the cavity geometry upon the chirp is investigated in detail.