Passive and active mode-locking of quantum-dot lasers for ultrashort, high power, and low noise optical pulse generation

Quantum-dot lasers have shown remarkable properties, such as temperature-insensitive operation, low loss, efficient carrier recombination, ultrafast gain recovery time, suppression of beam filamentation, reduced sensitivity to optical feedback, etc. These excellent performances will contribute to open new cost effective and improved lightwave communication systems. We exploit the performance of mode-locking of quantum-dot lasers for ultrashort, high power, and low noise optical pulse generation using two-section mode-locked laser diodes and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-based ring laser cavity.