Abstract

Parallel free-space optical interconnections as well as optical-fiber data links can be implemented with vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). VCSELs are attractive because they generate symmetric output beams, they are made by wafer-scale processing, and they can be integrated with high-speed electronics. Most optical data-transfer systems will greatly benefit if the transmitters and receivers are also equipped with some optical components for beam distribution and focusing. We demonstrate wafer-scale integration of VCSELs with refractive microlenses.

© 1995 Optical Society of America