Latest advances in VCSEL technology for next-generation data center network [Invited]
Shanting Hu, Xingchen Zhang, Chengyuan Li, Hongxing Yin, Xinying Li, Xiangjun Xin
Abstract
Directly modulated vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) have long dominated the data center optical interconnect market, attributed to VCSELs' cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency.However, numerous challenges are currently being addressed to enhance device characteristics and modulation speed, aligning with the evolving trends in nextgeneration data centers that underscore the need for enhanced communication rates and extended transmission distances.This review delves into VCSEL structure design, methods for achieving single-mode control, techniques for fabricating long-wavelength VCSELs, and advanced packaging technology for VCSEL arrays, offering insights into recent research on high-speed single-mode VCSEL development and related technologies.