Abstract

The generation of coherent ultrafast light pulses with semiconductor lasers is of considerable interest for scientific as well as practical applications. Active and passive mode-locking has been applied so far to produce optical pulses in the picosecond or even subpicosecond time regime^1,2. We report a new technique for synchronous mode-locking of a diode laser and an acousto-optically mode-locked Ar⁺ ion laser by using a picosecond optoelectronic switch for synchronized excitation of the diode laser. Synchronously mode-locked pulses with 30ps duration (FWHM) are generated at a repetition rate of 80.32 MHz with a buried heterostructure GaAs/GaAlAs double heterostructure laser.

© 1984 Optical Society of America