Electrooptic-sampling at variable multidecade repetition rates utilizing a directly modulated semiconductor laser

The generation of single optical pulses under simultaneous suppression of relaxation oscillations at variable multidecade repetition rates from 10 MHz to several GHz is demonstrated. For this purpose special variable pulse width Gaussian to squarewave-like electrical pulses with a FWHM as low as 60 ps are generated. Simultaneously, high current amplitudes of up to 300 mA at variable repetition rates from 10 MHz up to 8 GHz are realized. The described technique is applied in an electrooptic-sampling system for the measurement of high-frequency signals on planar hybrid-integrated circuits.