Abstract

The vertical cavity surface-emitting laser¹ (VCSEL) has recently received considerable attention owing to its potential applications in photonic switching, optical interconnect, high-power arrays, and even low-cost discrete devices. This device has a simple fabrication process, yet exhibits many desirable features, including low-threshold, narrow-beam profile for providing high coupling efficiency into fiber and dynamically single-longitudinal-mode operation even when modulated below threshold. However, most of the research on VCSEL has concentrated on device structures and dc characteristics owing to the lack of stable, packaged devices for ac operation. We report the dynamic behavior of a high-performance VCSEL. The modulation characteristics are well behaved under high bias and deep modulation, and speeds up to 4 Gb/s with an open eye are demonstrated.

© 1991 Optical Society of America