Edge-emitting mode-locked quantum-dot (QD) lasers are compact, highly efficient sources for the generation of picosecond and femtosecond pulses and/or broad frequency combs. They provide direct electrical control and footprints down to few millimeters. Their broad gain bandwidths (up to 50 nm for ground to ground state transitions as discussed below, with potential for increase to more than >200 nm by overlapping ground and excited state band transitions) allow for wavelength-tuning and generation of pico- and femtosecond laser pulses over a broad wavelength range. In the last two decades, mode-locked QD laser have become promising tools for low-power applications in ultrafast photonics. In this article, we review the development and the state-of-the-art of edge-emitting mode-locked QD lasers. We start with a brief introduction on QD active media and their uses in lasers, amplifiers, and saturable absorbers. We further discuss the basic principles of mode-locking in QD lasers, including theory of nonlinear phenomena in QD waveguides, ultrafast carrier dynamics, and mode-locking methods. Different types of mode-locked QD laser systems, such as monolithic one- and two-section devices, external-cavity setups, two-wavelength operation, and master-oscillator power-amplifier systems, are discussed and compared. After presenting the recent trends and results in the field of mode-locked QD lasers, we briefly discuss the application areas.

边缘发射锁模量子点 (QD) 激光器是用于产生皮秒和飞秒脉冲和/或宽频率梳的紧凑型高效光源。它们提供直接电气控制和低至几毫米的占地面积。它们的宽增益带宽（如下文所述，对于地态到基态跃迁高达 50 nm，通过重叠地态和激发态带跃迁有可能增加到 >200 nm 以上）允许波长调谐和产生皮秒和飞秒宽波长范围内的激光脉冲。在过去的二十年中，锁模 QD 激光器已成为超快光子学中低功率应用的有前途的工具。在本文中，我们回顾了边发射锁模 QD 激光器的发展和最新技术。我们首先简要介绍 QD 有源介质及其在激光器、放大器和可饱和吸收器中的用途。我们进一步讨论了 QD 激光器中锁模的基本原理，包括 QD 波导中的非线性现象理论、超快载流子动力学和锁模方法。讨论和比较了不同类型的锁模 QD 激光系统，例如单片和两部分器件、外腔设置、双波长操作和主振荡器功率放大器系统。在介绍了锁模 QD 激光器领域的最新趋势和结果之后，我们简要讨论了应用领域。超快载流子动力学和锁模方法。讨论和比较了不同类型的锁模 QD 激光系统，例如单片和两部分器件、外腔设置、双波长操作和主振荡器功率放大器系统。在介绍了锁模 QD 激光器领域的最新趋势和结果之后，我们简要讨论了应用领域。超快载流子动力学和锁模方法。讨论和比较了不同类型的锁模 QD 激光系统，例如单片和两部分器件、外腔设置、双波长操作和主振荡器功率放大器系统。在介绍了锁模 QD 激光器领域的最新趋势和结果之后，我们简要讨论了应用领域。