Ultrafast VCSELs for Datacom

Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are broadly used as low-cost reliable light sources for high-speed data communication in local area and storage area networks (LANs/SANs), as well as for computer and consumer applications. The rapid increase of the serial transmission speed and the limitations of copper-based links at bit rates beyond 10 Gb/s and distances beyond 1 m extend the applications of fiber-optic interconnects to progressively shorter distances. The wavelength of 850 nm is standard for LAN/SAN applications over OM3 and OM4 multimode fibers and will continue playing an important role in future standards. In the last year, impressive results were achieved with oxide-confined VCSELs emitting at 850 nm. The data transmission rate could be shifted from 30 to 38 Gb/s, which is presently the highest data rate for any oxide-confined VCSELs.