Gain-switched dynamics of tapered waveguide bow-tie lasers: experiment and theory

A large signal dynamic beam propagation model has been developed to describe the gain-switched operation of GaAs-AlGaAs double tapered waveguide bow-tie laser diodes. Good agreement is demonstrated between experiment and theory, highlighting the role of nonuniform carrier depletion and transverse mode spatial hole-burning in limiting peak pulse powers on picosecond time scales.