Pulsed electrical operation of 1.5-μm vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Abstract

Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers operating in the 1.3- and 1.5-μm wavelength ranges are highly attractive for telecommunications applications. However, they are far less well-developed than devices operating at shorter wavelengths. Pulsed electrically-injected lasing at 1.5 μm, at temperatures up to 240 K, is demonstrated in a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser with one epitaxial and one dielectric reflector. This is an encouraging result in the development of practical sources for optical fiber communications systems.