Gain switching of a double-core-waveguide semiconductor laser via traveling-wave optical pumping

Abstract

Gain-switched operation of a double-core-waveguide semiconductor laser via traveling-wave optical pumping was achieved. An internal short pulse that traveled forward and backward in the cavity with amplification or decay was generated at high excitation power, and the pulse width and decay time constant of the main pulse were 5.5 and 2.6 ps, respectively; this decay time constant was shorter than the photon lifetime of the cavity or the limit predicted by standard rate-equation theory.