Picosecond pulse generation from passively modelocked vertical cavity diode laser at up to 15 GHz pulse repetition rate

The generation of ultrashort pulses (~15 ps) from a passively modelocked InGaAs multiple quantum well (MQW) vertical cavity surface emitting diode laser is reported at a repetition rate up to 15 GHz, utilising a cavity configuration that incorporates a reverse-biased quantum well device as a fast saturable absorber. Pulsing at up to 20 GHz rate has been observed on a continuous-wave background.