Optical-level shifter and self-linearized optical modulator using a quantum-well self-electro-optic effect device.

We demonstrate an optical-level shifter and a modulator whose transmission varies linearly with drive current, both based on a new, negative-feedback mode of operation of the recently discovered quantum-well self-electro-optic effect device. The system is compatible with both laser diodes and low-power semiconductor electronics and is applicable in both analog and digital optical processing. An extension of the system gives inverted, linear modulation of a coherent beam by an incoherent light source.

Optically pumped ultrashort cavity In(1-x) Ga(x) As(y) P(1-y) lasers: picosecond operation between 0.83 and 1.59 microm.

Ultrashort-cavity, thin-film lasers from In(1-x)Ga(x)As(y)P(1-y) of five different compositions, including InP and In(0.53)Ga(0.47)As, have been made to lase between 0.83 and 1.59 microm. The multitude of lasing wavelengths observed had line-to-line separations of less than 10 nm. The lasers were pumped with 1-psec pulses from a mode-locked dye laser. An output pulse of 6-psec duration was measured at a wavelength of 1.16 microm.