SEQUENTIALLY-MODULATED DIODE-LASER SEED-PULSE GENERATOR

摘要

A modulated diode-laser provides a first sequence of optical pulses. The first sequence of optical pulses is further modulated to provide a second sequence of optical pulses. Pulses in the second sequence have a shorter duration than pulses in the first sequence. The first sequence of pulses may be generated by a directly modulated diode laser (12) or by a cw diode laser (42) with subsequent external modulator (48). Modulators external to the diode laser may comprise either a modulated double pass semiconductor optical amplifier (22, 48) or an electro-optical modulator (32). Nanosecond pulses with high output contrast ratio and defined spectral width can be generated.