InP-based VCSEL technology covering the wavelength range from 1.3 to 2.0 /spl mu/m

Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are highly attractive light sources for future optical communication systems, high speed datacom transmission lines and gas sensing applications. The wavelength region from 1.3 to 2.0 /spl mu/m covers not only both wavelengths interesting for telecommunication (1.31 /spl mu/m and 1.55 /spl mu/m), but also several absorption lines of environmental gases (e.g. H/sub 2/O 1.38 /spl mu/m and 1.83 /spl mu/m, CH/sub 4/ 1.684 /spl mu/m, CO/sub 2/ 2.004 /spl mu/m). In this presentation, we discuss the suitability of the material system AlGaInAs/InP for this wavelength range as well as recent results concerning the device performance.