Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL)

Author

Iga, Kenichi

Author_Institution

Tokyo Inst. of Technol., Yokohama, Japan

Volume

101

Issue

10

fYear

2013

Firstpage

2229

Lastpage

2233

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);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Proceedings of the IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9219

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JPROC.2013.2275016

Filename

6584751