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17 Jun 2002
US-based Bandwidth9 makes fixed long-wavelength VCSELs that beat distributed-feedback laser yields.
Bandwidth9 of the US has manufactured singlemode 1550 nm and 1600 nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with yields that are higher than those for distributed-feedback lasers (DFBs).
Based on indium phosphide, Bandwidth9 is confident that the VCSELs will displace today's DFBs for dense and coarse wavelength division multiplexing applications in fiber-optic communications.
"Power levels are between 1 and 2 mW and yields are many times higher than those for DFBs, which is quite phenomenal," said Tim Richardson, executive vice-president of business development at Bandwidth9. "Modulation rates are up to 2.5 Gbit/s but we hope to reach 10 Gbit/s within 12 months."
In the past Bandwidth9 has focused on tunable products for metro-market applications and developed a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) process to do just this. Richardson says however that customers kept pushing the company to make fixed-wavelength VCSELs.
"'Why not make fixed?' they said. And with fewer process steps [than tunable VCSELs], production is easier than the tunable route," Richardson explained.
Currently sampling devices to partners, Bandwidth9 intends to make the VCSELs at similar costs to Fabry-Perot lasers. The company already has the industry's largest manufacturing plant for the MBE processing of long-wavelength VCSELs, but plans to expand to support its fixed-wavelength laser requirements.
Richardson says that next year will also see the company partnering with fixed-wavelength laser suppliers, so it can focus on its tunable laser products.
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