All-optical sampling and spectrographic pulse measurement using cross-absorption modulation in multiple-quantum-well devices

The application of cross absorption modulation for optical sampling and phase sensitive pulse measurement is presented. Both a commercial 40 GHz electroabsorption modulator and a vertical microcavity saturable absorber are used to sample a 2 ps pulse train at 40 GHz. The modulator was then used to make cross-absorption modulation based frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) measurements. The results were verified by comparison with a commercial optical sampling oscilloscope and the more standard second harmonic generation FROG technique.