Avalon Unveils 10 Gig VCSEL

Avalon Photonics Ltd has developed a new high speed vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) with a bandwidth above 10GHz. The device is an ideal source for ultra high speed short range multimode fiber links operating at 850 nm wavelength. The most important step taken in order to increase the VCSEL bandwidth was minimization of the parasitics.

Using a coplanar waveguide (CPW) layout structure for the VCSELs has the advantage that all contacts are on the top, which means simple microwave probing, n- and p-drive is technologically simple and wire as well as flip chip bonding is possible. The remaining intrinsic capacitance of the device was significantly reduced.

The VCSEL’s input resistance of around 50 Ohm matches existing microwave amplifiers and line drivers. 10 Gbits/s serial or per channel will be one of the next steps for GB Ethernet and optical backplane applications respectively.

Samples of the new 10Gbits/s VCSEL chip are available now.

Avalon Photonics Ltd.