Title :
Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL)
Author_Institution :
Tokyo Inst. of Technol., Yokohama, Japan
Abstract :
The vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) is becoming a key device in high-speed optical local area networks (LANs) and even wide-area networks (WANs). This device is also enabling ultraparallel data transfer in equipment and computer systems, including storage area networks (SANs) and wide optoelectronics fields. In this paper, we will review its physics and the progress of technology covering the spectral band from infrared to ultraviolet by featuring materials and fabrication technology. Performances such as threshold, output power, polarization, modulation, and reliability are introduced. Last, we will touch on its future prospects.
Keywords :
laser beams; laser cavity resonators; laser reliability; light polarisation; optical communication equipment; optical modulation; semiconductor lasers; surface emitting lasers; LAN; SAN; VCSEL; WAN; computer systems; infrared band; modulation; optical local area networks; optoelectronics; output power; polarization; reliability; spectral band; storage area networks; threshold power; ultraparallel data transfer; ultraviolet band; vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser; wide-area networks; Cavity resonators; Gallium arsenide; Lasers; Light emitting diodes; Optical surface waves; Surface emitting lasers; Surface waves; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers; Distributed Bragg reflector (DBR); gigabit Ethernet; local area network (LAN); microlens; multilayer; quantum well; semiconductor laser; surface-emitting laser (SEL); vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL);
Journal_Title :
Proceedings of the IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/JPROC.2013.2275016
