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Self-mode-locking has become an emerging path to the generation of ultrashort pulses with vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers. In our work, a strong Kerr nonlinearity that is so far assumed to give rise to mode-locked operation is evidenced and a strong nonlinearity enhancement by the microcavity is revealed. We present wavelength-dependent measurements of the nonlinear absorption and nonlinear-refractive-index change in a gain chip using the Z-scan technique. We report negative nonlinear refraction up to 1.5E-11 cm2/W in magnitude in the (InGa)As/Ga(AsP) material system close to the laser design wavelength, which can lead to Kerr lensing. We show that by changing the angle of incidence of the probe beam with respect to the gain chip, the Kerr nonlinearity can be wavelength-tuned, shifting with the microcavity resonance. Such findings may ultimately lead to novel concepts with regard to tailored self-mode-locking behavior achievable by peculiar Kerr-lens chip designs for cost-effective, robust and compact fs-pulsed semiconductor lasers.

Optical second-harmonic generation is demonstrated to be a sensitive probe of the buried interface between the lattice matched semiconductors gallium phosphide and silicon with (001) orientation. Rotational anisotropy measurements of SHG from GaP/Si show a strong isotropic component of the response not present for pure Si(001) or GaP(001). The strength of the overlaying anisotropic response directly correlates with the quality of the interface as determined by atomically resolved scanning transmission electron microscopy.Optical second-harmonic generation is demonstrated to be a sensitive probe of the buried interface between the lattice matched semiconductors gallium phosphide and silicon with (001) orientation. Rotational anisotropy measurements of SHG from GaP/Si show a strong isotropic component of the response not present for pure Si(001) or GaP(001). The strength of the overlaying anisotropic response directly correlates with the quality of the interface as determined by atomically resolved scanning transmission electron microscopy. Systematic comparison of samples fabricated with different growth modes in metal organic vapor phase epitaxy reveals that the anisotropy for different polarization combinations can be used as a selective fingerprint for the occurrence of anti-phase domains and twins. This all-optical technique can be applied as an {\it in-situ} and non-invasive monitor even during growth. Systematic comparison of samples fabricated with different growth modes in metal organic vapor phase epitaxy reveals that the anisotropy for different polarization combinations can be used as a selective fingerprint for the occurrence of anti-phase domains and twins. This all-optical technique can be applied as an {\it in-situ} and non-invasive monitor even during growth., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

A series of (Ga,In)As/GaAs/Ga(As,Sb) multi-quantum well heterostructures is analyzed using temperature- and power-dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Pronounced PL variations with sample temperature are observed and analyzed using microscopic many-body theory and band structure calculations based on the k$\cdot$p method. This theory-experiment comparison reveals an unusual, temperature dependent variation of the band alignment between the (Ga,In)As and Ga(As,Sb) quantum wells., Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures

(Ga,In)As/GaAs/Ga(As,Sb) multi-quantum well heterostructures have been investigated using continuous wave and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy at various temperatures. A complex interplay was observed between the excitonic type-II transitions with electrons in the (Ga,In)As well and holes in the Ga(As,Sb) well and the type-I excitons in the (Ga,In)As and Ga(As,Sb) wells. The type-II luminescence exhibits a strongly non-exponential temporal behavior below a critical temperature of Tc = 70K. The transients were analyzed in the framework of a rate-equation model. It was found that the exciton relaxation and hopping in the localized states of the disordered ternary Ga(As,Sb) are the decisive processes to describe the dynamics of the type-II excitons correctly.

We show experimentally the existence of bright and dark spatial solitons in semiconductor resonators for excitation above the band gap energy. These solitons can be switched on, both spontaneously and with address pulses, without the thermal delay found for solitons below the band gap which is unfavorable for applications. The differences between soliton properties above and below gap energy are discussed., Comment: 4 pages, 7 figures

Bright and dark spatial solitons are observed in an optically pumped semiconductor resonator. The pumping allows to considerably reduce the light intensity necessary for the existence of the solitons and alleviates thermal load problems. Experiments are found to agree with calculations based on a simple large aperture semiconductor resonator model. The role of signs of the absorptive and reactive nonlinearities for soliton existence are discussed in relation with the nonlinear resonance effect, the tilted wave mechanism of pattern formation, and the sign of the population inversion., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures