DUAL-POLARIZATION OPTICAL PULSE GENERATION USING A MODE-LOCKED 2-ARM EXTERNAL-CAVITY DIODE-LASER

The generation of two synchronized pulse trains of orthogonal state of polarization by active mode-lockings of a single dual-polarization di ode laser is reported. The external cavity concept allows separate tun ing of the TE and the TM wavelength over more than 20 nm. Pulses havin g a duration of less than 60 ps and a time-bandwidth product around 0. 9 have been obtained. The relative timing between the TE and TM pulse could be adjusted by modifying the external cavity length. Employing t he frequency multiplication technique, pulse trains of different repet ition rate for TE and TM have been realized. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.