Test of the VCSEL driver based on Verilog-A VCSEL model

There have been many tries to model vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) as a 50-Ω resistor. However, it is not accurate to model VCSEL as a 50-Ω resistor due to its nonlinear characteristics. Therefore, Verilog-A is used with the datasheet of the commercial single-mode fiber (SMF) 1550-nm VCSEL and it is compared with the case of not using Verilog-A. To compare both cases, different types of test environment are configured for the 50-Ω model and the commercial VCSEL. The driver for the 50-Ω resistor is measured at two data rates, 10 Gb/s and 20 Gb/s. At the data rate of 20 Gb/s, it consumes 34.8 mW and achieving an energy efficiency of 1.74 mW/(Gb/s). On the other hand, the driver for the VCSEL is tested with the commercial 10 Gb/s VCSEL and it consumes 46.7 mW average power with the predicted 10.6 dB extinction ratio (ER).