title: Pulse shortening of gain switched single mode semiconductor lasers using a variable delay interferometer.
abstract: We propose a pulse shaping and shortening technique for pulses generated from gain switched single mode semiconductor lasers, based on a Mach Zehnder interferometer with variable delay. The spectral and temporal characteristics of the pulses obtained with the proposed technique are investigated with numerical simulations. Experiments are performed with a Distributed Feedback laser and a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser, emitting at 1.5 µm, obtaining pulse duration reduction of 25-30%. The main asset of the proposed technique is that it can be applied to different devices and pulses, taking advantage of the flexibility of the gain switching technique.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Tecnología Fotónica y Bioingeniería - CEMDATIC, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria 28040 Madrid, Spain. antonio.consoli@tfo.upm.es
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Consoli
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Esquivias
mesh_terms: D000669:Amplifiers, Electronic; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007368:Interferometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State