Nonlinear distortion and dynamic range of red (670 nm) oxide confined VCSELs

The analog modulation properties of oxide confined InGaAlP vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) emitting in the visible region (670 nm) are investigated. Two VCSELs with different oxide aperture sizes (10 and 18 μm) were measured. The larger VCSEL exhibits a spurious free dynamic range as high as 92-100 dB/spl middot/Hz
²
3/ in the frequency range 0.1-3 GHz while the smaller VCSEL exhibits a dynamic range of 88-94 dB/spl middot/Hz
²
3/ in the same frequency range.