PULSE BUILDUP IN PASSIVELY MODE-LOCKED MONOLITHIC QUANTUM-WELL SEMICONDUCTOR-LASERS

The buildup of pulses in a passively mode-locked monolithic semiconduc tor laser is investigated experimentally and theoretically. A simple m odel, based on competition between the fundamental and higher order mo de-locking ''supermodes,'' gives a time constant for the buildup in go od agreement with the experimental values, which are on the order of 3 .5 ns. The theory shows that to minimize the pulse buildup time, the p hoton life time and the width of the gain spectrum should be minimized , and the gain and the gain modulation, should be maximized.