High-accuracy picosecond characterization of gain-switched laser diodes.

A unique combination of the time-correlated photon-counting technique and single-photon avalanche diode detectors gives an accurate characterization of gain-switched semiconductor lasers with picosecond resolution. The high sensitivity and the clean shape of the time response reveal even small features (reflections and relaxation oscillations), making a true optimization of the laser-diode operation possible. The technique outperforms the standard characterization with ultrafast p-i-n photodiodes and a sampling oscilloscope. In addition, compared with other methods, it has favorable features that greatly simplify the measurement.