Abstract :
A vertical-cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) was invented 30 years ago. A lot of unique features can be expected, such as low-power consumption, wafer-level testing, small packaging capability, and so on. The market of VCSELs has been growing up rapidly in recent years, and they are now key devices in local area networks using multimode optical fibers. Also, long wavelength VCSELs are currently attracting much interest for use in single-mode fiber metropolitan area and wide area network applications. In addition, a VCSEL-based disruptive technology enables various consumer applications such as a laser mouse and laser printers. In this paper, the recent advance of VCSEL photonics will be reviewed, which include the wavelength extension of single-mode VCSELs and their wavelength integration/control. Also, this paper explores the potential and challenges for new functions of VCSELs toward optical signal processing
Keywords :
laser cavity resonators; laser modes; metropolitan area networks; optical communication equipment; optical fibre LAN; packaging; semiconductor lasers; surface emitting lasers; wide area networks; VCSEL photonics; VCSEL-based disruptive technology; laser mouse; laser printers; local area networks; low-power consumption; metropolitan area network; multimode optical fibers; network; optical signal processing; semiconductor laser; single-mode fiber network; small packaging capability; vertical-cavity surface emitting laser; wafer-level testing; wavelength control; wavelength integration; wide area network; Fiber lasers; Optical fiber LAN; Optical fibers; Optical surface waves; Packaging; Photonics; Surface emitting lasers; Testing; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers; Wafer scale integration; Crystal growth; high-speed modulation; laser array; microelectromechanical system (MEMS); optical signal processing; semiconductor laser; surface emitting laser; tunable laser; wavelength division multiplexing (WDM);
