Mode locking of a broad-area semiconductor laser with a multiple-quantum-well saturable absorber

Hybrid mode locking of a broad-area semiconductor laser with a multiple-quantum-well saturable absorber in an external cavity is demonstrated. A novel method for mode control of the broad-area laser output, based on patterning of the multiple quantum well absorber into a microdot mirror structure, is presented. Pulses as short as 15 ps, at a repetition rate of 593 MHz, with an average power of 9 mW and a peak power of 1 W have been achieved.