Coupled Aperture VCSELs Suitable for 100 GHz Intensity Modulation

In this paper we report high frequency (50 – 100GHz range) optical field intensity oscillations in a laterally-coupled-cavity vertical cavity surface-emitting laser. The oscillating frequency is defined by the photon energy splitting of the coupled states, each oscillating at a frequency defined by the related photon energy. As a result of constructive or destructive interference the optical field intensity reaches maximum either in the left or in the right aperture. As the frequency difference is small as compared to the averaged photon frequency, the cavities are quasi-resonant and the interference effect is strong, causing an intense resonance frequency with integrated intensity of at least 3-fold higher as compared to the resonance oscillation frequency feature. The effect is observed at low and at high current destinies. With proper design of the cavities, one should enable a simple and reliable solution for high-speed data transmission at data rates ~200 Gb/s and beyond. The effect coexists with spin-related frequency resonances allowing its combination with novel concepts in data transmission.