Abstract

Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) carry a formidable potential for novel applications such as optical interconnects, optical information processing, freespace communications, optical recording, etc. Their successful commercialization is, however, largely contingent upon achievement of efficient, high-power cw operation. At the present date, the highest reported pulsed output power from VCSELs exceeds 500 mW, emitted by 100µm broad-area devices.^[1] The cw output power is, however, considerably lower,^[1] with thermally limited light-current characteristics of 60-µm broad-area devices exhibiting a downward bend at output power levels as low as 12 mW. Large difference between maximum pulsed and cw output powers manifests the seriousness of thermal problems in VCSELs.

© 1992 IQEC