Subpicosecond pulses from passively mode-locked GaAs buried optical guide semiconductor lasers

Abstract

We report the observation of bursts of transform-limited 0.65-psec pulses at 1-GHz repetition rates by passive mode locking of a buried optical guide laser in an external cavity. The lasers contain a saturable absorber at the exit facet, specifically introduced by 600-keV proton bombardment at a 3×1015- cm−2 dosage level.