High-speed vertical cavity surface emitting lasers

We have previously demonstrated record modulation bandwidths for oxide-confined vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) based on strained InGaAs-GaAs quantum wells. The monolithic oxide-confined structure provides good optical confinement, low thresholds, efficient operation, and acceptable thermal resistance; these qualities promote high speed operation. Here we report work on nominally 850 nm wavelength oxide-confined VCSELs with modulation bandwidths in excess of 20 GHz.