We describe an experimental comparison of gain dynamics in quantum well lasers and optical amplifiers. We demonstrate an approximately 30% increase in the time constant describing the gain recovery on the ∼1 ps time scale in a laser above threshold. The increase is due to the high rate of stimulated emission which modifies the relative significance of the various mechanisms contributing to the gain recovery. We suggest an explanation based on the coupling of two processes: Carrier capture and carrier cooling. We conclude that laser gain dynamics contain details that cannot be revealed in experiments on optical amplifiers due to the vast differences in operating conditions between a laser and an optical amplifier.
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Tessler et al. (1994) studied this question.
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