Energy-Efficient VCSELs for Interconnects

Abstract

Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are particularly suited for energy-efficient optical interconnects in supercomputing. Consequently, several groups are developing VCSELs for energy-efficient interconnects with remarkable success. We give an overview over recent breakthroughs and present devices at the standard wavelength of 850 nm with record-low power consumption and heat dissipation per bit, achieving a value of only 69 mW/Tb/s at 17 Gb/s. This efficiency is exceeding the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) projection of 100 mW/Tb/s for 2015. If uncooled operation, ultradense arrays with smallest footprints, and highest ambient temperatures are required, the waveband around 1 $\mu\hbox{m}$ is advantageous. At 980 nm, we could achieve an efficiency value in this waveband of 233 mW/Tb/s at an error-free 35 Gb/s.

Keywords

• Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL)
• high-speed modulation
• optical interconnects
• energy-efficiency
• green photonics