90/spl deg/C continuous-wave operation of 1.83-/spl mu/m vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Excellent lasing performance is demonstrated for a 1.83-/spl mu/m InGaAlAs-InP vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) utilizing the buried tunnel junction technology. Threshold currents as low as 190 /spl mu/A at 20/spl deg/C and operating temperatures as high as 90/spl deg/C have been measured. These values are the best ones reported so far for long-wavelength VCSELs.     

80/spl deg/C continuous-wave operation of 2.01-/spl mu/m wavelength InGaAlAs-InP vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Electrically pumped buried tunnel junction InGaAlAs-InP vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with self-adjusted lateral current and optical confinement and record emission wavelengths beyond 2 /spl mu/m are presented. Front and back side mirrors are realized using 31.5 epitaxial layer pairs of alternating InGaAs-InAlAs and a dielectric 2.5 pair CaF/sub 2/-a-Si layer stack. The devices show single-mode continuous-wave operation up to heat sink temperatures over 80/spl deg/C. The maximum output power at 20/spl deg/C reaches 0.43 mW, threshold current and voltage are as low as 0.66 mA and 0.73 V, respectively. To reach the long emission wavelength, we use an optimized active region comprising heavily strained quantum wells. High-resolution X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence measurements reveal excellent material quality without relaxation in the quantum wells.     

160/spl deg/C pulsed laser operation of AlGaInP-based vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Pulsed lasing operation of a 670 nm AlGaInP-based oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) at high temperatures is demonstrated. At +120/spl deg/C heatsink temperature output power exceeded 0.5 mW and at +160/spl deg/C 25 /spl mu/W output power was achieved     

Design and fabrication of 1.3-/spl mu/m vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers using dielectric reflectors

A novel vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser structure has been fabricated with low loss and high reflectivity a-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3//a-Si distributed Bragg reflectors. The active region consists of AlGaInAs multiple quantum wells and a tunnel junction and has been grown by a single-step metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. Laser emission at 1.3 /spl mu/m was achieved under continuous-wave operation at room temperature.     

Modeling of the threshold operation of 1.3-/spl mu/m GaAs-based oxide-confined (InGa)As-GaAs quantum-dot vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

In the paper, the self-consistent optical-electrical-thermal-gain threshold model of the oxide-confined (OC) quantum-dot (QD) (InGa)As-GaAs vertical-cavity surface-emitting diode laser (VCSEL) is demonstrated. The model has been developed to enable better understanding of physics of an operation of GaAs-based OC QD VCSELs in a full complexity of many interactions in its volume between individual physical phenomena. In addition, the model has been applied to design and optimize the low-threshold long-wavelength 1.3-/spl mu/m GaAs-based OC QD VCSELs for the second-generation optical-fiber communication systems and to examine their anticipated room-temperature (RT) performance. An influence of many construction parameters on device RT lasing thresholds and mode selectivity has been investigated. Some essential design guidelines have been proposed to support efforts of technological centers in producing low-threshold single-mode RT devices.     

Continuous-wave operation of 1.55-/spl mu/m vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser with digital-alloy active region using submonolayer superlattices

For the first time, a digital-alloy active region (DAAR) consisting of submonolayer superlattices was used in a 1.55-/spl mu/m vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser. The device showed continuous-wave operation with a room-temperature threshold current (I/sub th/) of 1.2 mA, maximum output power (P/sub max/) of 0.26 mW, and a differential quantum efficiency (/spl eta//sub d/) of 21%. These results indicate that the DAAR is at least as efficient as the analog-alloy active region and provides much better control of alloy composition and strain.     

A monolithic GaInAsN vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser for the 1.3-/spl mu/m regime

An all-epitaxial GaInAsN vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser for room-temperature (RT) emission at 1.3 /spl mu/m was developed by solid-source molecular beam epitaxy using a plasma source for nitrogen activation. RT photopumped operation is demonstrated at a wavelength of 1283 nm. Stimulated emission was observed up to a record high temperature of 143/spl deg/C, resulting in an emission wavelength of 1294 nm.     

1.3-/spl mu/m Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with double-bonded GaAs-AlAs Bragg mirrors

We demonstrate, for the first time, double-bonded AlGaInAs strain-compensated quantum-well 1.3-/spl mu/m vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). GaAs-AlAs Bragg mirrors were wafer-bonded on both sides of a cavity containing the AlGaInAs strain-compensated multiple-quantum-well active layers sandwiched by two InP layers. The lasers have operated under pulsed conditions at room temperature. A record low pulsed threshold current density of 4.2 kA/cm/sup 2/ and a highest maximum light output power greater than 4.6 mW have been achieved. The maximum threshold current characteristic temperature T/sub 0/ of 132 K is the best for any long wavelength VCSELs. The laser operated in a single-longitudinal mode, with a side-mode suppression ratio of more than 40 dB, which is the best results for 1.3-/spl mu/m VCSELs.     

1.3 /spl mu/m quantum dot vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser with external light injection

A 1.3 /spl mu/m quantum dot vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (QD VCSEL) with external light injection is presented, having been experimentally demonstrated. The QD VCSEL is fabricated on GaAs substrate. The 3 dB frequency response of the QD VCSEL based on the TO-Can package is enhanced from the free-running 1.75 to 7.44 GHz with the light injection technique.     

10-Gb/s error-free transmission under optical reflection using isolator-free 1.3- /spl mu/m InP-based vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Error-free transmission through 10-km single-mode fiber at 10 Gb/s under -13-dB optical reflections has been demonstrated for the first time using a directly modulated 1.3-/spl mu/m InP-based VCSEL without any optical isolator. The 13-GHz relaxation oscillation frequency and stable polarization suppresses relative intensity noise degradation under optical reflection. Only 1-dB error-free power penalty has been observed with optical reflection set with the worst polarization direction.     

Photopumped lasing at 1.25 /spl mu/m of GaInNAs-GaAs multiple-quantum-well vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

We report room-temperature (RT) continuous-wave (CW) photopumped operation of long-wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) employing a Ga/sub 0.7/In/sub 0.3/N/sub 0.007/As/sub 0.993/-GaAs multiple-quantum-well (MQW) active layer grown directly on a GaAs-AlAs distributed Bragg reflector (DBR). Evidence for laser oscillation includes spectral linewidth narrowing, clamping of spontaneous emission, and a distinct increase in slope efficiency at threshold. By taking advantage of lateral growth rate nonuniformity, we obtained laser emission over an extremely broad 110-nm wavelength range, from 1.146-1.256 /spl mu/m. Equivalent threshold current density over this range was estimated at 3.3-10 kA/cm/sup 2/.     

12.5-gb/s direct Modulation up to 115/spl deg/C in 1.3-/spl mu/m InGaAlAs-MQW RWG DFB lasers with notch-free grating structure

Direct modulation at 12.5 Gb/s of 1.3-/spl mu/m InGaAlAs distributed feedback (DFB) ridge waveguide (RWG) lasers with low-resistance notch-free gratings running up to 115/spl deg/C is experimentally demonstrated. It was achieved by the combination of the high differential gain of an InGaAlAs MQW active layer, high characteristic temperature of RWG structure, and low-resistance notch-free grating. Moreover, successful transmission of 10-Gb/s modulated signals over 30-km standard single-mode fiber was achieved with the laser running at up to 115/spl deg/C. These results confirm the suitability of this type of laser for use as the cost-effective light source in 12.5-Gb/s and 10-Gb/s datacom applications.     

High-performance 1.06-/spl mu/m selectively oxidized vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with InGaAs-GaAsP strain-compensated quantum wells

We present the first room-temperature continuous-wave operation of high-performance 1.06-/spl mu/m selectively oxidized vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL's). The lasers contain strain-compensated InGaAs-GaAsP quantum wells (QW's) in the active region grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. The threshold current is 190 /spl mu/A for a 2.5/spl times/2.5 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ device, and the threshold voltage is as low as 1.255 V for a 6/spl times/6 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ device. Lasing at a wavelength as long as 1.1 /spl mu/m was also achieved. We discuss the wavelength limit for lasers using the strain-compensated QW's on GaAs substrates.     

Continuous-wave operation of GaInNAsSb distributed feedback lasers at 1.5 /spl mu/m

GaAs-based singlemode emission at 1.5 /spl mu/m has been realised for the first time in continuous-wave operation. GaInNAsSb active-layer material and GaAsN strain-compensating barriers have been used in combination with lateral distributed feedback. Laser diodes with a threshold current of 95 mA, an external efficiency of 0.15 W/A and a maximum output power of more than 10 mW could be demonstrated. A sidemode suppression ratio better than 31 dB could be realised at a singlemode emission wavelength of 1496 nm.     

Low-driving-current temperature-stable 10 Gbit/s operation of p-doped 1.3 /spl mu/m quantum dot lasers between 20 and 90/spl deg/C

Low-driving-current temperature-stable 10 Gbit/s direct modulation was achieved for optimised 200 mum-long short cavity 1.3 mum p-doped quantum dot lasers. Driving conditions were 25.2 mA_p-p for the modulation current and 23.4 mA for the bias current through the whole temperature range from 20 to 90degC     

High-power continuous-wave operation of quantum-cascade lasers up to 60/spl deg/C

High-temperature high-power continuous-wave (CW) operation of high-reflectivity-coated 12-/spl mu/m-wide quantum-cascade lasers emitting at /spl lambda/ = 6 /spl mu/m with a thick electroplated Au top contact layer is reported for different cavity lengths. For a 3-mm-long laser, the CW optical output powers of 381 mW at 293 K and 22 mW at maximum operating temperature of 333 K (60/spl deg/C) are achieved with threshold current densities of 1.93 and 3.09 kA/cm/sup 2/, respectively. At 298 K, the same cavity gives a maximum wall plug efficiency of 3.17% at 1.07 A. An even higher CW optical output power of 424 mW at 293 K is obtained for a 4-mm-long laser and the device also operates up to 332 K with an output power of 14 mW. Thermal resistance is also analyzed at threshold as a function of cavity length.     

A vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser appliqued to a 0.8-/spl mu/m NMOS driver

An optoelectronic integrated circuit (OEIC) composed of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) appliqued to an NMOS drive circuit was fabricated to form an optical link from the CMOS chip. A custom NMOS circuit was designed and fabricated through the MOSIS foundry service in a standard 0.8-/spl mu/m CMOS process. InGaAs quantum-well VCSELs were grown, fabricated and tested on an n-type GaAs substrate. Next, the VCSELs underwent a substrate removal technique and were appliqued to the NMOS circuitry. The OEIC was tested at the chip level and showed an electrical to optical conversion efficiency of 1.09 mW/V. Modulation results are also discussed.     

Low-threshold proton-implanted 1.3-/spl mu/m vertical-cavity top-surface-emitting lasers with dielectric and wafer-bonded GaAs-AlAs Bragg mirrors

We demonstrate a new structure for long-wavelength (1.3-/spl mu/m) vertical-cavity top-surface-emitting lasers using proton implantation for current confinement. Wafer bonded GaAs-AlAs Bragg mirrors and dielectric mirrors are used for bottom and top mirrors, respectively. The gain medium of the lasers consists of nine strain-compensated AlGaInAs quantum wells. A record low room temperature pulsed threshold current density of 1.13 kA/cm/sup 2/ has been achieved for 15-/spl mu/m diameter devices with a threshold current of 2 mA. The side-mode-suppression-ratio is greater than 35 dB.     

High-speed Modulation of InGaAs: Sb-GaAs-GaAsP quantum-well vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with 1.27-/spl mu/m emission wavelength

1.27-/spl mu/m InGaAs: Sb-GaAs-GaAsP vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) were grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition and exhibited excellent performance and temperature stability. The threshold current changes from 1.8 to 1.1 mA and the slope efficiency falls less than /spl sim/35% as the temperature raised from room temperature to 70/spl deg/C. With a bias current of only 5 mA, the 3-dB modulation frequency response was measured to be 8.36 GHz, which is appropriate for 10-Gb/s operation. The maximal bandwidth is measured to be 10.7 GHz with modulation current efficiency factor (MCEF) of /spl sim/5.25 GHz/(mA)/sup 1/2/. These VCSELs also demonstrate high-speed modulation up to 10 Gb/s from 25/spl deg/C to 70/spl deg/C.