MODE-LOCKED OPERATION OF A MASTER OSCILLATOR POWER-AMPLIFIER

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.