Optically controlled two-component heterojunction laser

Hard switching-on and bistable operation were observed when an optical signal was applied to a weakly injected region of a two-component (GaAl) As heterojunction laser in a state close to the self-excitation threshold under continuous pumping conditions. A purely optical flip-flop operating regime with switching fronts of about 1 nsec duration and 4 mW amplitude, as well as a regime of generation of subnanosecond optical single pulses, were realized. The amplitude of the optical control signal was estimated to be below 0.1 mW.