First modelocked vertical external cavity surface emitting laser using quantum dot layers for gain and SESAM

Picosecond VECSELs achieve high average output powers of up to 2.1 W and pulse repetition rates of up to 50 GHz using semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs) for modelocking. The shortest pulse duration generated by a VECSEL is 260 fs, which is achieved at 15 mW average output power. We show for the first time a passively modelocked VECSEL, where the gain and the absorber are both entirely based on QDs. We used a standard V-shaped cavity design, consisting of an output coupler, the QD-VECSEL gain structure and a QD-SESAM.