Intensity Modulation Bandwidth Limitations of Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser Diodes

Abstract

Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) are seen as major candidates for optical interconnections. This is due to their extremely low threshold currents, easy on-chip integration of multiple devices, and high-efficiency fiber coupling. Important to most practical applications of VCSELs is the ability to operate these devices at high data rates (up to several Gbit/sec) which requires their intensity modulation bandwidths to be in the GHz frequency range.