Rafailov E.U. Ultrafast lasers based on quantum dot structures: physics and devices / E.U.Railov, M.A.Cataluna, E.A.Avrutin. - Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, 2011. - xi, 250 p.: ill. - Ref.: p.223-239. - Ind.: p.242-250. - ISBN 978-3-527-40928-0  Место хранения:   053 | Институт лазерной физики CO РАН | Новосибирск | Библиотека

Оглавление / Contents

Introduction ................................................ IX Acknowledgments ............................................. XI 1 Semiconductor Quantum Dots for Ultrafast Optoelectronics ..... 1 1.1 The Role of Dimensionality in Semiconductor Materials ... 1 1.2 Material Systems Used ................................... 4 1.2.1 III-V Epitaxially Grown Quantum Dots ............. 4 1.2.2 QD-Doped Glasses ................................. 6 1.2.3 Quantum Dashes ................................... 6 1.3 Quantum Dots: Distinctive Properties for Ultrafast Devices ................................................. 7 1.3.1 Inhomogeneous Broadening ......................... 7 1.3.2 Ultrafast Carrier Dynamics ....................... 9 2 Foundations of Quantum Dot Theory ........................... 11 2.1 Energy Structure and Matrix Elements ................... 11 2.2 Theoretical Approaches to Calculating Absorption and Gain in Quantum Dots ................................... 14 2.3 Kinetic Theory of Quantum Dots ......................... 22 2.4 Light-Matter Interactions in Quantum Dots .............. 37 2.5 The Nonlinearity Coefficient ........................... 51 3 Quantum Dots in Amplifiers of Ultrashort Pulses ............. 55 3.1 Optical Amplifiers for High-Speed Applications: Requirements and Problems .............................. 55 3.2 Quantum Dot Optical Amplifiers: Short-Pulse Operating Regime ................................................. 62 3.3 Quantum Dot Optical Amplifiers at High Bit Rates: Low Distortions and Patterning-Free Operation .............. 63 3.4 Nonlinear Operation and Limiting Function Using QD Optical Amplifiers ..................................... 76 4 Quantum Dot Saturable Absorbers ............................. 77 4.1 Foundations of Saturable Absorber Operation ............ 77 4.2 The General Physical Principles of Saturable Absorption in Semiconductors ........................... 80 4.2.1 Physical Processes in a Saturable Absorber ...... 80 4.2.2 Geometry of Saturable Absorber: SESAM versus Waveguide Absorber - The Cavity Enhancement of Saturable Absorption and the Standing Wave Factor in SESAMs ................................ 84 4.3 The Main Special Features of a Quantum Dot Saturable Absorber Operation ..................................... 87 4.3.1 Bandwidth of QD SAs ............................. 88 4.3.2 Dynamics of Carrier Relaxation: Ultrafast Recovery of Absorption .......................... 88 4.3.3 Saturation Fluence .............................. 94 5 Monolithic Quantum Dot Mode-Locked Lasers ................... 99 5.1 Introduction to Semiconductor Mode-Locked Lasers ....... 99 5.1.1 Place of Semiconductor Mode-Locked Lasers Among Other Ultrashort Pulse Sources ............ 99 5.1.2 Mode-Locking Techniques in Laser Diodes: The Main Principles ................................ 100 5.1.3 Passive Mode Locking: The Qualitative Picture, Physics, and Devices .................. 101 5.2 Theoretical Models of Mode Locking in Semiconductor Lasers ................................................ 103 5.2.1 Small-Signal Time Domain Models: Self- Consistent Pulse Profile ....................... 103 5.2.2 Large-Signal Time Domain Approach: Delay Differential Equations Model ................... 109 5.2.3 Traveling Wave Models .......................... 120 5.2.4 Frequency and Time-Frequency Treatment of Mode Locking: Dynamic Modal Analysis ........... 125 5.3 Main Predictions of Generic Mode-Locked Laser Models and their Implication for Quantum Dot Lasers .......... 126 5.3.1 Laser Performance Depending on the Operating Point .......................................... 126 5.3.2 Main Parameters that Affect Mode-Locked Laser Behavior ....................................... 129 5.4 Specific Features of Quantum Dot Mode-Locked Lasers in Theory and Modeling ................................ 131 5.4.1 Delay Differential Equation Model for Quantum Dot Mode-Locked Lasers ......................... 132 5.4.2 Traveling Wave Modeling of Quantum Dot Mode- Locked Lasers: Effects of Multiple Levels and Inhomogeneous Broadening ....................... 141 5.4.3 Modal Analysis for QD Mode-Locked Lasers ....... 153 5.5 Advantages of Quantum Dot Materials in Mode-Locked Laser Diodes .......................................... 154 5.5.1 Advantages of QD Saturable Absorbers ........... 154 5.5.2 Broad Gain Bandwidth ........................... 154 5.5.3 Low Threshold Current .......................... 155 5.5.5 Suppressed Carrier Diffusion ................... 156 5.5.6 Lower Level of Amplified Spontaneous Emission ....................................... 157 5.5.7 Linewidth Enhancement Factor ................... 157 5.6 Ultrashort Pulse Generation: Achievements and Strategies ............................................ 158 5.6.1 Monolithic Mode-Locked Quantum Dot Lasers ...... 258 5.6.2 Chirp Measurement and Pulse Compression ........ 161 5.6.3 Toward Higher Power: Tapered Lasers ............ 164 5.6.4 Toward Higher Repetition Rates ................. 165 5.6.5 External Cavity QD Mode-Locked Lasers .......... 166 5.7 Noise Characteristics of QD Mode-Locked Lasers ........ 167 5.7.1 Timing Jitter .................................. 167 5.7.2 Pulse Repetition Rate Stability and Resilience to Optical Feedback ................. 170 5.7.3 Performance Under Optical Injection ............ 172 5.8 Performance of QD Mode-Locked Lasers at Elevated Temperature ........................................... 174 5.8.1 Stable Mode Locking at Elevated Temperature .... 174 5.8.2 Pulse Duration Trends at Higher Temperatures ... 175 5.8.3 The Use of p-Doping in QD Mode-Locked Lasers ... 176 5.9 Exploiting Different Transitions for Pulse Generation ............................................ 176 5.9.1 Mode Locking via Ground and Excited States ..... 176 5.9.2 The Excited-State Transition as Tool for Novel Mode-Locking Regimes ..................... 179 5.10 Summary and Outlook ................................... 180 5.10.1 QD Mode-Locked Laser Diodes: New Functionalities ................................ 180 5.10.2 Future Directions .............................. 181 6 Ultrashort Pulse Solid State Lasers Based on Quantum Dot Saturable Absorbers .................................... 183 6.1 A Brief Historical Overview of Ultrashort-Pulse Generation ............................................ 183 6.2 Macroscopic Parameters of Saturable Absorbers ......... 184 6.3 QD SESAMs for Efficient Passive Mode Locking of Solid-State Lasers Emitted around 1 μm ................ 187 6.4 QD SESAMs for Efficient Passive Mode Locking of Solid-State Lasers Emitted around 1.3 μm .............. 193 6.5 QD SESAMs for the Passive Mode Locking of Fiber Lasers ................................................ 199 6.6 Mode-Locked Semiconductor Disk Lasers Incorporating QD SESAMs ............................................. 201 6.7 Optically Pumped Quantum Dot VECSELs .................. 204 7 Saturable Absorbers Based on QD-Doped Classes .............. 207 7.1 II—VI Semiconductor Nanocrystals in Glass ............. 207 7.2 IV-VI Semiconductor QD-Doped Glasses for Ultrashort- Pulse Generation from Solid-State Lasers .............. 209 7.3 QD-Doped Glass Saturable Absorbers for Passive Mode Locking around 1.3 μm ................................. 210 7.4 Cr:YAG Laser Passively Mode Locked with a QD-Doped Glass Saturable Absorber .............................. 212 7.5 PbS QD-Doped Glass Saturable Absorbers for Passive Mode Locking around 1 μm and Their Nonlinear Characteristics ....................................... 214 8 Emerging Applications of Ultrafast Quantum Dot Lasers ...... 217 8.1 Optical Communications ................................ 217 8.2 Datacoms .............................................. 219 8.3 Biophotonics and Medical Applications ................. 220 8.4 Outlook ............................................... 220 References ................................................. 223 Index ...................................................... 241