PHOTOPUMPED LONG-WAVELENGTH VERTICAL-CAVITY SURFACE-EMITTING LASERS USING STRAIN-COMPENSATED MULTIPLE-QUANTUM WELLS

We report optically pumped long wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emi tting lasers (VCSELs) made of strain-compensated multiple quantum well s. The structure of the VCSELs consists of 30 pairs of compressive str ained wells and tensile strained barriers as the gain medium and Si/Si O2 dielectric mirrors. The lasers operate at 1.59 mum wavelength. The threshold power density was measured to be 3 kW/cm2 at room temperatur e, corresponding to a threshold current density of about 2 kA/cm2. The VCSELs have a characteristic temperature T0 of 90 K between 10 and 60 -degrees-C, and 60 K from 70 to 110-degrees-C.