HIGH-SPEED PERFORMANCE OF 2-D VERTICAL-CAVITY LASER-DIODE ARRAYS

We have fabricated and tested 10 x 10 independently addressable vertic al-cavity surface-emitting laser diode arrays. Arrays with 55 mum acti ve diameter devices show an average threshold current density of 590 A /cm2 and an excellent homogeneity of the output characteristics over t he full array size with maximum CW output powers of 12 mW. Broad area laser diodes with active diameters of 75 mum reach output powers of 18 mW for CW operation and 180 mW under pulsed conditions. Small-signal modulation bandwidths are beyond 10 and 8 GHz for the 55 and 75 mum de vices, respectively.