Abstract

A mode-locked solid state laser is disclosed for generating ultrashort optical pulses from solid state material. The laser can comprise a solid state gain medium, at least one mirror connected to the medium and a semiconductor multiple quantum well saturable (MQW) absorber in contact with the mirror, for mode-locking the solid state gain medium. The solid state medium can be composed of but is not limited to Titanium Sapphire, Cr:YAG, Cr:Fosterite, Nd:YAG, Nd:glass, color center lasers, semiconductor diode lasers, optically active fiber lasers, and the like. The absorber can include a structure consisting of 70 Angstrom wells of GaAs and 100 Angstrom barriers of AlGaAs. The generated optical pulses can be used in a wide variety of applications such as diagnostic testing, communications, computers, medicine, automotive applications and the like.

Document Type

Patent

Patent Number

US 5,434,873

Application Serial Number

08/241,620

Issue Date

7-18-1995

Current Assignee

UCFRF

Assignee at Issuance

UCFRF

College

College of Optics and Photonics

Department

CREOL

Allowance Date

3-22-1995

Filing Date

5-12-1994

Assignee at Filing

UCFRF

Filing Type

Nonprovisional Application Record

Donated

no

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