A low-cost high-repetition-rate picosecond laser diode pulse generator

Wilfried Uhring; Chantal-Virginie Zint; Jeremy Bartringer

doi:10.1117/12.545038

1 September 2004 A low-cost high-repetition-rate picosecond laser diode pulse generator

Wilfried Uhring, Chantal-Virginie Zint, Jeremy Bartringer

Proceedings Volume 5452, Semiconductor Lasers and Laser Dynamics; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.545038
Event: Photonics Europe, 2004, Strasbourg, France

Abstract

In this paper, we describe a low cost pulse generator based on bipolar transistors designed to emit very short light pulses with a simple laser diode. Its main characteristics are laser pulses as short as 60 ps Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) and a repetition rate from DC up to 100 MHz. The circuit is based on three standard RF bipolar transistors which emit a short electrical pulse of 1.2 ns FWHM with 5 Volt amplitude peak-peak into 50 Ω. This unit can directly drive a classical laser diode to emit short laser pulses. A DC current generator is added in order to polarize the laser diode near its emission point and reduce the power delivered by the pulse generator and enhance its life time. This generator allows the adjustment of the emitted power of the laser diode. If the power emitted is too high, secondary pulses are observed. There is an optimal power where there is a single short pulse with duration down to 60 ps FWHM. The system is simply triggered by a TTL signal and its structure allows the generation of a single shoot, or a complex pattern generation and repetitive generation. The unique limitation is the delay between pulse emissions which must be greater than 10 ns. The typical optical power with a standard laser diode at 660 nm (45 mW continuous) is 1.7 mW with a repetition rate of 80 MHz and a pulse width down to 60 ps measured with a synchroscan streak camera. The peak power is about 350 mW. The pulse to pulse jitter is less than 10 ps rms. This system can be a competitive alternative to expensive commercial products.

Citation Download Citation

Wilfried Uhring, Chantal-Virginie Zint, and Jeremy Bartringer "A low-cost high-repetition-rate picosecond laser diode pulse generator", Proc. SPIE 5452, Semiconductor Lasers and Laser Dynamics, (1 September 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.545038

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available