Ultra-short pulse shaping based on time-domain spectrum modulation in a semiconductor optical amplifier

Time-domain modulation of a pulsed laser spectrum to synthesize different pulse shapes is proposed. The generated pulses are time-stretched and injected into a semiconductor optical amplifier biased by the photo-detection of a time-shaped version of the pulses generated by the optical source. Different frequencies of the original spectrum can therefore be suppressed or amplified leading to pulse shaping. Experimental results proving the concept are reported.