1060 nm Single-Mode VCSEL and Single-Mode Fiber Links for Long-Reach Optical Interconnects

We investigate the use of a 1060 nm single-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and a 1060 nm single-mode fiber as a competitive single-mode technology for cost- and power-efficient long-reach optical interconnects. Error-free transmission (bit error rate < 10–12) over 2 km is demonstrated at bitrates up to 40 Gb/s under on-off keying non-return-to-zero (OOK-NRZ) modulation, without equalization, forward-error correction, or other forms of digital signal processing. The VCSEL is extensively characterized with respect to its static and dynamic performances, including the power–voltage–current characteristics, spectral characteristics, beam divergence, modulation response, relative intensity noise, and frequency chirp. The measured dependence of power penalty on fiber length is consistent with an analysis of chirp-induced pulse compression and broadening along the negative chromatic dispersion fiber.