Gigabit-rate optical-signal transmission using vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with large-core plastic-cladding fibers

Abstract
We have demonstrated multi-gigabit-rate large-signal modulation of vertical-cavity bottom-surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) mounted on a high-speed carrier package that can individually operate 64 VCSELs. Current-modulation efficiency of 5.0 GHz//spl radic/(mA) and 3-dB modulation bandwidth of up to 7.0 GHz have been obtained for VCSELs that include flip-chip bonding pads and packaging. We have also demonstrated easily aligned optical signal transmission using our VCSELs with large-core graded-index plastic cladding fibers (GI-PCFs) at bit-rates of 3 Gb/s for 100 m, 2 Gb/s for 500 m, and 1.5 Gb/s for 1 km.