Lausanne, Switzerland -- BeamExpress S.A. has demonstrated 1.5-micron optically pumped tunable VCSELs (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers) with 38 nm tunability at tuning voltage values below 4 V. Devices with 5-micron apertures show 1 mW continuous wave single mode output power with 40 dB side mode suppression ratio.
The fabrication is based on a proprietary technology including a modified wafer fusion technique. A simple and efficient process allows to monolithically integrate a high performance VCSEL with a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) tuning structure that can be electrostatically activated at very low tuning voltage using standard low cost electronics.
This demonstration of widely tunable VCSELs that can cover the whole C or L WDM bands at tuning voltage values below 4 V opens new perspectives in the quest for cost-effective, high performance tunable lasers for METRO optical networks. "Tunable lasers are key elements for reconfigurable METRO networks, but will be commercially viable components only if their cost is lowered to match that of current fixed-wavelength telecommunication lasers. BeamExpress' new tunable VCSEL can meet this requirement because of the inherently inexpensive manufacturing technology involved", said Prof. Eli Kapon, Founder and Chief Scientist of BeamExpress.
BeamExpress develops, manufactures and sells optoelectronic components addressing access and transport applications for next generation metropolitan optical fiber networks. Based on a long wavelength VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers) proprietary technology, BeamExpress' products provide low-cost solutions allowing long distance, METRO-compatible optical transmission in the 1550nm band. Product development and engineering facilities are located in Lausanne (Switzerland). BeamExpress was founded in 2001 and received the first round of funding from Index Ventures in August 2001.