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Femtosecond synchronously mode-locked vertical-external cavity surface-emitting laser
Optics Express
|June 9, 2009
Summary
This study reports on a room-temperature, synchronously mode-locked vertical-external cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL). Researchers achieved ultrashort 200 fs pulses by compressing chirped output, demonstrating VECSEL potential for high-peak-power applications.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Laser Physics
- Semiconductor Lasers
Background:
- Vertical-external cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs) offer unique advantages for high-power laser generation.
- Mode-locking VECSELs is crucial for generating ultrashort pulses.
- Understanding VECSEL behavior under different pumping conditions is essential for optimizing performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mode-locking behavior of a room-temperature VECSEL operating at 980 nm.
- To analyze the impact of pump pulse duration on laser performance.
- To achieve ultrashort pulse generation through pulse compression.
Main Methods:
- Synchronous mode-locking of a VECSEL at room temperature.
- Characterization of laser output across different pump pulse durations (3.6 ps and 70 fs).
- External pulse compression of chirped laser output.
Main Results:
- Laser performance remained consistent across different pump pulse durations.
- Pulse duration directly from the VECSEL was limited to 10-40 ps due to self-phase modulation.
- Ultrashort pulses of ~200 fs with 1.3 kW peak power were achieved via pulse compression.
- Multiple pulsing phenomena and cavity length detuning effects were observed and studied.
Conclusions:
- The investigated VECSEL exhibits robust performance at room temperature.
- Pulse compression is an effective method for generating high-peak-power ultrashort pulses from this VECSEL.
- Further investigation into multiple pulsing and cavity dynamics can optimize VECSEL performance.
