Post-processing of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers for transverse mode and polarization control

The operation on how high quality single-mode operation can be readily attained on etching circles in multimode devices is discussed. Arrays of such spots can also be envisaged. Control of the polarization state is also achieved by use of deep line etches. The output filaments and beam shapes of the conventional multimode vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL) is shown to be engineered in terms of their positions, widths, and polarizations by use of focused ion beam etching (FIBE). Several GaAs quantum well top-emitting devices with cavity diameters of 10 μm and 18 μm were investigated.

Mode control in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers by post-processing using focused ion-beaih etching

Single-mode emission is achieved in previously multimode gain-guided vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL's) by localized modification of the mirror reflectivity using focused ion-beam etching. Reflectivity engineering is also demonstrated to suppress transverse mode emission in an oxide-confined device, reducing the spectral width from 1.2 nm to less than 0.5 nm.

Mode-controlled vertical cavity surface emitting lasers for bandwidth enhancement of multimode fibre links

A GaAs Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) that generates controlled modes offset from the center is described. The device is modulated with a 27-1 pseudo-random bit sequence and its output is transmitted along a 1 km length of multimode fiber (MMF). Open eyes are obtained for data rates as high as 1.4Gb/s. The transmission bandwidth increases by a factor of 4 over over-filled launch (OFL). This enhancement is stable against environment influences on the fiber.

High bandwidth multimode fiber links using subcarrier multiplexing in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

The usage of subcarrier multiplexing (SCM) techniques to allow link transmission in excess of the specified fiber bandwidth is described. A series of 200-Mbit/s channels with carrier frequencies of up to more than twenty times the 3-dB fiber bandwidth have been successfully used, the maximum being limited by the available electronics. To assess the transmission of the fiber, digitally modulated channels are placed on high frequency carrier signals and then used to modulate a vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL).

Mechanism of polarization pinning in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers using focused ion beam etching

Photoluminescence experiments have identified strain as the origin for polarization pinning in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers post-processed by focused ion beam etching. Theoretical models were applied to deduce the strain in devices. Post-annealing was used to optimize polarization pinning.

Spatial emission control of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers to provide bandwidth gain in multimode fibre links using a simple alignment technique

Etched VCSEL sources are reported which avoid bandwidth collapse in multimode fibre using a simple coupling technique to control the launch. These devices have allowed better than over-filled launch bandwidth for alignment tolerances of ±7 microns.

Gaussian etched single transverse mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

A continuous Gaussian profile matched to the fundamental mode was etched onto the aperture of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). Single Gaussian spot emission was achieved over the entire operating current range.