High-bit-rate data transmission with short-wavelength oxidized VCSELs, toward bias-free operation

Efficient oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser diodes are investigated as light sources for optical interconnection. Data rates of 2.5 Gb/s with bit-error rates (BERs) smaller than 10/sup -11/ are routinely achieved with 980-nm as well as 850-nm short-wavelength devices for transmission over several hundred meters of graded index multimode fiber. A bias-free modulation scheme is applied to vertical-cavity lasers for the first time and 1-Gb/s data links are established in both wavelength regimes. Successful demonstration of data transmission with rates up to 10 Gb/s with proton-implanted devices is briefly reviewed.