Generation of high-energy (0.3 /spl mu/J) short pulses (<400 ps) from a gain-switched laser diode stack with subnanosecond electrical pump pulses

Record pulse energy (E/spl sim/0.3 /spl mu/J) is reported for a gain-switched laser diode stack with subnanosecond electrical pump pulses. Pulsewidths near 100 ps are seen to be feasible. A detailed time-resolved analysis of emitted near-field patterns is presented, which provides guidelines for further improvements in time performances. A stack design for pulsed laser diodes of high energy is discussed.