2015 Volume 84 Issue 12 Pages 1078-1085
The vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) was born in Japan. The 38 years of research and development has opened up various applications including data communication, sensors, optical interconnections, spectroscopy, optical storage, printers, laser displays, laser radar, atomic clocks and high power sources. A lot of unique features have been already proven, such as low power consumption, wafer level testing and so on. The market for VCSELs has been maturing rapidly and they are now key devices in local area networks, and optical interconnections in data centers and supercomputers.
In this paper, the advances in VCSEL photonics will be reviewed. We present the high-speed modulation of VCSELs based on a coupled cavity structure. For further increase in transmission capacity per fiber, the wavelength engineering of VCSEL arrays is discussed, which includes wavelength stabilization and wavelength tuning based on a micro-machined cantilever structure. We also address a lateral integration platform and new functions, including high-resolution beam scanners, vortex beam creation and large-port free space wavelength selective switches with a Bragg reflector waveguide.
