Ultra-Fast 3 Terminal VCSEL (U-VCSEL)

In this Phase II STTR proposal, Ziva in collaboration with subcontractor University California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) proposes to fabricate and demonstrate high speed, direct modulated U-VCSELs with the goal to achieve high frequency (f3dB > 80 GHz) modulation capability with moderate (< 0.5 mW) optical output power. Modeling and simulation of the devices will provide in-depth understanding of device functionality. Based on experience from earlier projects, an iterative optimization process will be adopted for device design, consisting of three device generations grown by MBE. The first generation will be a waveguide based design to experimentally prove the basic functionality of high-speed modulation with a third device terminal. In the second generation, the high-speed modulation functionality will be incorporated into a VCSEL structure, with the third generation reserved for optimization of electrode design etc. Anticipated benefits will be to push the operational speed of direct modulated VCSELs well beyond the current limits of ~20 Gbps to ~90-100 Gbps. This technological advancement will enable the use of low cost VCSEL technology as the fundamental building block for both ultra fast future free space and fiber-optical interconnects for high performance computers and server applications.