Laser Breakthrough

Infineon Technologies says it has achieved a breakthrough in 1300 nm vertical cavity surface-emitting laser technology.

Up to now, 1300 nm lasers were available only in edge-emitting laser technology. 1300 nm VCSELs extend the potential range of fibre optic systems, providing inherent cost, reliability, and power advantages compared to edge-emitting laser technology.

The 1300 nm lasers can be modulated up to 10 GHz, providing the output power required for fibre optic transmission systems operating at OC-192 data rates (10 Gigabits per second).

Laser device usage is regulated by government agents to ensure eye safety. Because the human eye is 20 times less sensitive to longer wavelengths compared to 850 nm wavelengths, 1300 nm lasers may be operated at higher power levels.

More power can be coupled into the fibre while staying within eye-safety limits, enabling transmission over a longer range.

The vertically emitting laser is grown on a gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrate and has an active region consisting of multiple quantum wells of indium gallium arsenide nitride (InGaAsN).

The new components emit light at a wavelength around 1300 nm under continuous wave operation with a maximum output power above 1 mW at room temperature. Laser action is achieved up to +80°C.

The laser threshold current is about 2.0 mA at room temperature. Bit-error-free (BER<10-11) transmission was achieved up to 10 Gigabits per second.