Optical pulse generation using fabry-Pe´rot lasers under continuous-wave operation

Optical pulse generation at 100 GHz using a 1.5-μm Fabry-Pe´rot laser is experimentally demonstrated under continuous-wave operation. Although the output from the laser is almost constant, subpicosecond pulses at 100 GHz are obtained after propagation through a single-mode fiber with an adequate anomalous dispersion. The measured radio frequency spectrum confirms that the multiple longitudinal modes of the Fabry-Pe´rot laser are passively mode locked. Mode-locking instabilities appearing as frequency jumps at different currents are observed.