Photopumped long wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers using strain-compensated multiple quantum wells

Abstract
We report optically pumped long wavelength vertical‐cavity surface‐emitting lasers (VCSELs) made of strain‐compensated multiple quantum wells. The structure of the VCSELs consists of 30 pairs of compressive strained wells and tensile strained barriers as the gain medium and Si/SiO2 dielectric mirrors. The lasers operate at 1.59 μm wavelength. The threshold power density was measured to be 3 kW/cm2 at room temperature, corresponding to a threshold current density of about 2 kA/cm2. The VCSELs have a characteristic temperature T0 of 90 K between 10 and 60 °C, and 60 K from 70 to 110 °C.