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Review

Nature Photonics 1, 395–401 (1 July 2007) | doi:10.1038/nphoton.2007.120

Mode-locked quantum-dot lasers

E. U. Rafailov , M. A. Cataluna & W. Sibbett

Semiconductor lasers are convenient and compact sources of light, offering highly efficient operation, direct electrical control and integration opportunities. In this review we describe how semiconductor quantum-dot structures can provide an efficient means of amplifying and generating ultrafast (of the order of 100 fs), high-power and low-noise optical pulses, with the potential to boost the repetition rate of the pulses to beyond 1 THz. Such device designs are opening up new possibilities in ultrafast science and technology.