Startup says its long-wavelength vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) delivers 4mw of CW output power at room temperature

November 5, 2001

1 Min Read

CALABASAS, Calif. -- E2O announced a breakthrough today inthe Fiber Optic Industry’s quest for higher single mode optical output powerfrom long wavelength vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (LW-VCSELs).E2O’s CW output power of 4 mW, at room temperature, is the highest of allpublicly-reported single mode optical output power results, from any type ofLW-VCSEL. Together with a spectral linewidth of less than 0.2 nm and sidemode suppression better than 40 dB, this breaks the record set by E2O onlysix months ago, of 2.8 mW.

“LW-VCSELs have the greatest potential to displace DFB lasers thanks totheir low fabrication cost, single longitudinal and transverse modes andnarrow linewidth, all while being less susceptible to feedback noise”,commented Julian Cheng, Vice President of R&D. It is, however, difficult todesign a LW-VCSEL with high output power, while maintaining a singletransverse mode. Several other companies are also developing LW-VCSELs, buttheir single mode output power has been limited to less than 1 mW, which isnot sufficient to meet 10 Gigabit Ethernet requirements. Different types oflasers, such as horizontal cavity surface emitting lasers, do generatehigher single mode output power, but their spectral characteristics moreresemble a conventional Fabry-Perot type, edge-emitting laser, andtherefore, are not appropriate for applications where a DFB laser isrequired.

“This breakthrough by E2O will remove the final roadblock to LW-VCSELs beingimplemented in 10 Gbps transceivers and transponders, replacing much moreexpensive DFB lasers,” said H. C. Lee, President and CEO of E2O. “E2O isplanning to introduce LW-VCSEL based transceiver and transponder modules inthe first quarter of 2002.”

E2O Communications Inc.

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