Probing the ultrafast gain and refractive index dynamics of a VECSEL

Kriso, C.; Bergmeier, T.; Giannini, N.; Albrecht, A. R.; Sheik-Bahae, M.; Benis, S.; Faryadras, S.; Van Stryland, E. W.; Hagan, D. J.; Koch, M.; Mette, G.; Rahimi-Iman, A.

doi:10.1063/5.0061346

Title: Probing the ultrafast gain and refractive index dynamics of a VECSEL

Journal Article · Mon Nov 08 00:00:00 EST 2021 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0061346· OSTI ID:1982355

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^[2]; Sheik-Bahae, M. ^[2]; Benis, S. ^[3]; Faryadras, S. ^[3]; Van Stryland, E. W. ^[3]; Hagan, D. J. ^[3]; Koch, M. ^[1];

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Philipps-Universität Marburg (Germany)
Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando, FL (United States). College of Optics and Photonics, Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL)

Typically, strong gain saturation and gain dynamics play a crucial role in semiconductor laser mode-locking. While there have been several investigations of the ultrafast gain dynamics in vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs), little is known about the associated refractive index changes. Yet, such refractive index changes do not only have a profound impact on the pulse formation process leading to self-phase modulation, which needs to be compensated by dispersion, but they are also of particular relevance for assessing the feasibility of Kerr-lens mode-locking of VECSELs. Here, we measure both refractive index as well as gain dynamics of a VECSEL chip using the ultrafast beam deflection method. We find that, in contrast to the gain dynamics, the refractive index dynamics is dominated by an instantaneous (100 fs) and a very slow component (100 ps). The time-resolved measurement of nonlinear refraction allows us to predict a pulse-length dependent, effective nonlinear refractive index n_2,eff, which is shown to be negative and on the order of 10^-16m²=W for short pulse lengths (100 fs). It becomes positive for large excitation fluences and large pulse lengths (few ps). These results agree with some previous reports of self-mode-locked VECSELs for which the cavity design and pulse properties determine sign and strength of the nonlinear refractive index when assuming Kerr-lens mode-locking.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States). Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001; NA-0003525

OSTI ID:: 1982355

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1829548

Journal Information:: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 119, Issue 19; ISSN 0003-6951

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Probing the ultrafast gain and refractive index dynamics of a VECSEL

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