We report the first mode-locked operation of a tapered amplifier MOPA
to generate short optical pulses with record high average powers and p
ulse energies. The MOPA is constructed using a discrete semiconductor
oscillator and amplifier operating at 940 nm wavelength. Pulses of 4.2
ps duration are generated with average powers of 296 mW and peak powe
rs of 28.1 W. The energy of these pulses was 118 pJ, corresponding to
energies more than an order magnitude greater than the gain saturation
energy in the mode-locked laser itself, and also corresponds to energ
ies internal in the amplifier in excess of the gain saturation energy.
Although the amplifier saturation energy limits the pulse energy obta
inable in a mode-locked laser, the MOPA configuration demonstrates tha
t generation of pulses with energies in excess of the amplifier satura
tion energy is feasible in a post-amplification stage.