Ultrashort pulses from semiconductor diode lasers

Careful design of mounting structures and drive-circuit parameters is essential to obtain very short pulse-lengths with high peak powers from semiconductor diode lasers. We have developed a diode laser model using a coupled rate equation approach to predict operating regimes producing ultrashort output pulses. The model has been refined through comparison with experiment, and a 10 ps source, designed on the basis of this model, has been implemented.