Spiking in light pulses from GaAs Q-switched junction lasers

Using a detection system with 150-ps resolution, a spiking behavior has been detected in the -switched light output from GaAs junction lasers. At the lower currents in the -switching region, a single light spike, whose width is about 300 ps, is observed. At higher currents, additional light spikes appear whose widths and spacings decrease as the current is increased. At the highest pumping levels, only the initial spike is clearly resolved and its width has decreased to less than 200 ps. Qualitative agreement is obtained from a simple theory based on the standard rate equations. The necessary modifications to the theory are discussed and results of computer calculations are presented which predict that the width of the initial spike can be much less than 100 ps at sufficiently high pumping levels.