Direct streak-camera observation of picosecond gain-switched optical pulses from a 1.5 μm semiconductor laser

Abstract

For the first time a streak camera has been used to observe picosecond pulses generated at 1.5 μm wavelength by an injection laser without the use of frequency-doubling techniques in the detection system. Gain-switched pulses of 11 ps halfwidth have been observed, and hitherto unmeasured pulse delay data have been obtained. The observed pulse widths are believed to be the shortest yet generated using 1.5 μm diode lasers.