Abstract

Optical switches have proved to be efficient sources for generating short electrical pulses.¹ One important feature is that the rise time of these pulses can be as short as that of the incident optical pulse (down to 1 ps or less). They are thus extremely suitable for providing active Q-switching in two-section quantum well semiconductor lasers to which they can be integrated. The first section is used to produce gain and can be either dc or ac biased.

© 1990 Optical Society of America