A passively aligned VCSEL transmitter operating at fixed current over a wide temperature range

We have investigated low-current operation characteristics of a passively aligned VCSEL transmitter driven at fixed "on" and "off" current over a wide temperature range. GaAs/AlGaAs-based 850-nm oxide VCSELs with the minimum threshold current of 0.79 mA at 50 masculineC and small temperature dependence of the threshold current, d(2)I(th)/dT(2), as low as 0.114 muA/ masculineC(2) have been fabricated and used for the transmitter module. The superior temperature characteristics enable fixed-current operation of the VCSEL transmitter that complies with Gigabit Ethernet standard over a wide temperature range from -20 to 120 masculineC. This result paves the way to a VCSEL transmitter featured by low-power consumption, low-cost with a simple driving circuit and passive alignment, and a wide operation temperature range.