1060 nm Single-Mode VCSEL and Single-Mode Fiber Links for Long-Reach Optical Interconnects

Abstract

We investigate the use of a 1060 nm single-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and a 1060 nm single-mode fiber as a competitive single-mode technology for cost- and power-efficient long-reach optical interconnects. Error-free transmission (bit error rate <; 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-12</sup> ) over 2 km is demonstrated at bitrates up to 40 Gb/s under on-off keying non-return-to-zero (OOK-NRZ) modulation, without equalization, forward-error correction, or other forms of digital signal processing. The VCSEL is extensively characterized with respect to its static and dynamic performances, including the power-voltage-current characteristics, spectral characteristics, beam divergence, modulation response, relative intensity noise, and frequency chirp. The measured dependence of power penalty on fiber length is consistent with an analysis of chirp-induced pulse compression and broadening along the negative chromatic dispersion fiber.