Title :
Gigabit-per-second cryogenic optical link using optimized low-temperature AlGaAs-GaAs vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers
Author :
Lu, BO ; Lu, Yin-Chen ; Cheng, Julian ; Schneider, Richard P. ; Zolper, John C. ; Goncher, Gary
Author_Institution :
Center for High Technol. Mater., New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque, NM, USA
fDate :
8/1/1996 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We describe the design of GaAs-AlGaAs vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) that are optimized for operation at very low temperatures and the experimental demonstration of a free-space optical interconnect for cryogenic electronic systems using a VCSEL. We demonstrate high-speed modulation of the optical link at a data rate of up to 2 Gb/s at 77 K, with a very low bit-error rate of <10-13 , and thermally stable operation is achieved over a wide range of cryogenic temperatures without laser bias current compensation. Cryogenic VCSELs with excellent lasing characteristics have been achieved over the entire temperature range from 150 K to 6 K, including high output power (22 mW), high power-conversion efficiency (32%), high slope efficiency (~100%), low threshold voltage (1.75 V) and current (1.7 mA), as well as a high-modulation bandwidth (12 GHz) for a 16 μm diameter device at 80 K
Keywords :
III-V semiconductors; aluminium compounds; cryogenic electronics; electro-optical modulation; gallium arsenide; integrated optoelectronics; laser beam applications; laser cavity resonators; laser stability; optical design techniques; optical interconnections; optical links; semiconductor lasers; surface emitting lasers; μm diameter device; 1.7 mA; 1.75 V; 100 percent; 12 GHz; 150 to 6 K; 16 mum; 2 Gbit/s; 22 mW; 32 percent; 77 K; 80 K; GaAs-AlGaAs; GaAs-AlGaAs vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser design; cryogenic electronic systems; data rate; entire temperature range; free-space optical interconnect; gigabit-per-second cryogenic optical link; high output power; high power-conversion efficiency; high slope efficiency; high-modulation bandwidth; high-speed modulation; laser bias current compensation; lasing characteristics; low bit-error rate; low threshold voltage; optimized low-temperature AlGaAs-GaAs vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers; thermally stable operation; Bit error rate; Cryogenic electronics; Design optimization; Optical design; Optical fiber communication; Optical interconnections; Optical modulation; Surface emitting lasers; Temperature distribution; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
