Tunable, picosecond pulse generation using a compressed, modelocked laser diode source

The generation of pulses shorter than 6 ps, tunable from 1.26 to 1.32 mu m, is discussed. The source of these pulses consists of a mode-locked external-cavity 12.3- mu m InGaAsP diode laser with grating feedback combined with a compressor which is a grating pair containing an internal telescope. The dispersion in the compressor can be tuned in both magnitude and sign to optimally compensate the chirp in the mode-locked external cavity laser at each wavelength.>