Vertical cavity surface emitting laser-exploratory, emerging, or disruptive?

The vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) is a relatively new class of semiconductor laser which can be monolithically fabricated. It is now considered as one of the important devices for Gigabit Ethernet, high speed LANs, computer links, optical interconnects, and so on. We review the technical progress of devices ranging from infrared to ultraviolet spectra by featuring physics, materials, fabrication technology, performances such as threshold, output powers, polarizations, modulation, tunability, reliability, and so on. Then, we discuss some emerging applications.