Dilute nitride absorbers in passive devices for mode locking of solid-state lasers

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth Vol. 278; no. 1; pp. 239 - 243
• Main Authors: Schön, S., Rutz, A., Liverini, V., Grange, R., Haiml, M., Zeller, S.C., Keller, U.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-05-2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: A3. Molecular beam epitaxy; B2. Semiconducting quaternary alloys; B3. Nonlinear optical devices; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Lasers; Materials science; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Optics; Physics; Quantum wells; Semiconductor lasers; laser diodes; 42.60.Fc; B3. Nonlinear optical devices; A3. Molecular beam epitaxy; 42.70.Hj; 42.65.Re; 81.15.Hi; B2. Semiconducting quaternary alloys; Gallium arsenides; Inorganic compounds; Saturable absorbers; Quantum wells; Digital simulation; Photoluminescence; Crystal growth from vapors; RHEED; Experimental study; Indium arsenides; Interfaces; Rapid thermal annealing; 81.15.Hi A3. Molecular beam epitaxy; Quantity ratio; Solid state lasers; Molecular beam epitaxy; Mirrors; Nanostructured materials; Nonlinear optics
• ISSN: 0022-0248; 1873-5002
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2004.12.069

We report on the growth, material and nonlinear optical properties of GaInNAs quantum wells (QWs) used in semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs) for passive mode locking of solid-state lasers in the telecommunication wavelength range from 1.3 to 1.55
μm. The antiresonant SESAMs were grown by molecular beam epitaxy with a nitrogen concentration of 1.6% and 2.6%, respectively. They were subject to rapid thermal annealing to fine-tune the absorption wavelength by blueshifting the photoluminescence wavelength. The appearance of QW intermixing upon thermal annealing was studied by X-ray rocking curve measurements. The thermal annealing procedure was proved not to alter the GaInNAs SESAM by QW intermixing for temperatures up to 800
°C. Optical characterization was applied to investigate the nonlinear SESAM properties. Degenerate pump-probe experiments revealed similar recovery times for both SESAMs in the tens of picoseconds range. We demonstrated stable self-starting passive cw mode locking with sub-10
ps pulses at 1314 and 1534
nm.