Wavelength Division Multiplexed Fiber-Optic Communication System

摘要

This report summarizes the technology developed by Optical Concepts during BMDOSBIR contract DASG60-94-0022. This material presented here is a condensed version of what is described in greated detail in the 8 quarterly reports submitted during this program. In this program, Optical Concepts has developed a technology for fabricating wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) arrays of long-wavelength vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) operating norminally at 1550 nm. Prior to this program, 1550 nm VCSELs operating continuous-wave (CW) at room temperature had not been demonstrated. Optical Concepts has developed CW 550 nm VCSELs during this program by integrating them with a 980 nm VCSEL optical pump. This optically pumped structure eliminates the need for dopants in the optical cavity, and reduces device heating, leading to CW operation with extremely low threshold gains. The low threshold gain allows fabrication of WDM arrays with a wide wavelength span.