title: In situ probing of mode-locked vertical-external-cavity-surface-emitting lasers.
abstract: We utilize an asynchronous optical sampling technique to study the gain dynamics of vertical-external-cavity-surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs) under mode-locked operation. This allows for an in situ characterization of the gain depletion and recovery over nanoseconds with femtosecond-scale resolution. Our method allows for a more direct study of intracavity gain dynamics than traditional pump/probe measurements. We observe a rapid depletion of the gain on the timescale of the intracavity pulse. Afterward, a rapid recovery over a few picoseconds due to intraband scattering and carrier heating takes place, followed by a long recovery attributed to the continuous supply of carriers by the pump laser.
authors.forename: Caleb
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Maik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheller
authors.forename: Stephan W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Antje R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stolz
authors.forename: R Jason
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Jerome V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Moloney