AlGaAs DH pump laser for photoluminescence lifetime measurements

The use of GaAlAs double heterostructure lasers as a pulsed excitation source for photoluminescence time-decay measurements is described. Subnanosecond laser pulses easily allow the determination of luminescence decay times >/=500 ps using a single photon counting system. In contrast to mode-locked gas or dye lasers, this new technique utilizes simple equipment (diode laser and pulse generator) and requires no special alignment or tuning procedures.