11.1 W average power, 20 ps pulses at 1 GHz repetition rate from a fiber-amplified gain-switched 1.06 /spl mu/m Fabry-Perot laser diode

20 ps pulses at 1 GHz repetition rate were obtained from a gain-switched 1.06 /spl mu/m semiconductor laser utilizing pulse compression with normally dispersive fiber. The pulses were amplified in fiber to give average output power 11.1 W.