Abstract

Surface emitting laser diodes with vertical resonator (VCSEL) gain much interest in the last years. Compared to conventional laser diodes, these new devices have severeal advantages. Two-dimensional laser matrixes of high packaging density can be produced and coupling into optical fibers is possible without complicated optics. Data transfer rates exceeding 40 gbit/s have been demonstrated. Because of the very thin active layer, the light emission of these lasers is longitudinal single mode, but due to their lateral dimension of several micrometers, different transversal modes with slightly different wavelenght exist. Because of their high conversion efficiency, the threshold current is very low.

© 1998 IEEE