Low Power Vertical Cavity Laser Arrays with Integrated Microlenses for Free SpaceInterconnects. Phase 1

摘要

Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers are ideally suited for high performanceand low cost data transmission systems. Recent advances have yielded devices with low power efficiencies far greater than for in plane lasers. This means that it is now possible to produce massively parallel two dimensional emitter arrays with acceptable heat generation. The low divergence circular optical emission enables the devices to be designed into low cost free space communication systems. Adding to the device characteristics has been the development of GaAs microlenses integrated directly into the substrate of bottom emitting Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers. These microlenses are used to collimate the emission from the lasers. This same microlens technology can also be adapted to InP based detector arrays for complete free space communications links.