Final Report Summary - NOMOS (Novel semiconductor Optical sources for Metrology, Signal PrOcessing and Space applications.) Mode-Locked Semiconductor Lasers systems (MLSCL) are the most compact, efficient and reliable sources of ultra short optical pulses, with high repetition frequency. They find nowadays applications in various domains ranging from optical telecommunications to fluorescence lifetime imaging. Historically the laboratory demonstrations in 70-th started at first with GaAs/AlGaAs devices emitting in the NIR range. Later on the emphasis shifted to quaternary InGaAsP alloys with the target objective on optical telecommunication wavelength ranges at 1.33 and 1.55 μm. Today several technologies, among which are SESAM based VECSELs and monolithic cavity edge emitting lasers, have found a niche in telecom market. At the same time novel application domains appear related to expansion of the wavelength range due to novel material systems such as group-III nitrides and advance in optical frequency comb technology.The technologies in question are reaching nowadays a level of maturity that enables design and realization of MLSCL for high-precision optical metrology.The purpose of this study is to review and assess novel technique of stabilized sub-picosecond opticalpulses production based on compact and efficient semiconductor mode-locked lasers for application in LIDAR via the design, manufacturing and performance characterization. The design and assessment of selected semiconductor mode-locked laser architecture is based on considerations and trade-offs of the state-of-the-art technologies and device concepts enabling high relative accuracy of 10-9 in optical distance measurements.
