Pulse Cluster Dynamics in Passively Mode-Locked Semiconductor Vertical-External-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers

Abstract

Passively mode-locked lasers have become a topic of substantial research, as they are efficient sources of ultrashort optical pulses and essential to applications such as multiphoton microscopy and dual-comb spectroscopy. Here external cavity geometry has a great influence on performance, though, and also can lead to detrimental multipulse emission. The authors use a delay differential equation model, derived for these types of lasers and accounting for the external cavity geometry, to better understand the emergence of detrimental dynamics. The results are expected to further improve the performance of these systems.