(GaAl)As Laser Requirements for Local Attached Data Link Applications

The characteristics of (GaAl)As double heterostructure stripe contact injection lasers as they relate to applications in fiber optic data transmission systems are reviewed. The laser characteristics are treated as optical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical interfaces to the system in order to emphasize the necessity of designing devices as a functional part of a system or subsystem. It is concluded that the laser is generally well suited as an optical source in a card-mountable hybrid module transmitter for data links up to a few km and ≈100 Mbit/s data rates. Areas requiring further development include lowering of the laser threshold current, improving the modal stability, packaging the laser with electronics and fiber optic transmission lines, and improving the laser lifetime under varying ambient temperature conditions.