Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) emitting at 850 nm wavelength are known for their attractive optical features and a continuously growing range of applications. The main goal of the present thesis is to demonstrate the feasibility of a monolithical integration of VCSELs with PIN-type photodiodes (PDs) for the operation as transceiver (TRx) chips in optical data links. The project milestones comprise the chip and the epitaxial layer design of the VCSEL–PIN PD device based on a traditional AlGaAs/GaAs material system, its fabrication development, electro-optical characterizations, and data transmission in a bidirectional optical link over a single, two-side butt-coupled standard graded-index (GI) multimode fiber (MMF). The monolithic design lowers the costs in the semiconductor technology as well as in packaging and additionally avoids the use of external optics, even though it is employed with a single 50 μm core diameter GI MMF. Thus, the very compact optical link saves space, weight, and module cost. Deep insights into the electro-optical properties of VCSELs and PIN PDs are given by the theoretical description and measurements. The limitations of small-signal modulation responses are of main interest of this thesis. Thus, the dynamic characteristics including the extraction of modeled parasitics are presented. Also the electrical and optical crosstalk between the integrated devices and both transmission channels as well as the fiber alignment tolerances are covered. The results in optical data transmission consisting of various experiments in half-duplex and full-duplex mode, both free-space and fiber-coupled over a single MMF are comprised. The monolithic TRx design is well suited for low-cost, compact optical links over distances of a few hundred meters. Capable to handle data rates of up to 10 Gbit/s and more, these TRx chips can be employed, e.g., to upgrade existing standard MMF networks to bidirectional operation or in mobile, low-cost, automotive networks.

The huge progress which has been achieved in the field is covered here, in the first comprehensive monograph on vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) since eight years. Apart from chapters reviewing the research field and the laser fundamentals, there are comprehensive updates on red and blue emitting VCSELs, telecommunication VCSELs, optical transceivers, and parallel-optical links for computer interconnects. Entirely new contributions are made to the fields of vectorial three-dimensional optical modeling, single-mode VCSELs, polarization control, polarization dynamics, very-high-speed design, high-power emission, use of high-contrast gratings, GaInNAsSb long-wavelength VCSELs, optical video links, VCSELs for optical mice and sensing, as well as VCSEL-based laser printing. The book appeals to researchers, optical engineers and graduate students.

Limitations of electrical wires result in distortion and dispersion of the signal for long distances. That have emerged optical communication as the only way of communication for long distances. For medium distances optics can support the high data rates required by the latest applications. Optical networks are becoming the dominant transmission medium as the data rate required by different applications increases. The bottleneck for implementing optical instead of electric networks for medium distances, like local area network, is the cost of the optical components and the cost of replacing the existing copper network. This thesis will discuss the possible cost benefits that come from the use of different materials like plastic optical fiber instead of silica fiber or Si, Si/Ge instead of InP or GaAs for the transceiver as well as the trade offs between the performance and cost when discrete transceiver is replaced by the monolithically integrated transceiver, by using a process based cost model.

As rapid technological developments occur in electronics, photonics, mechanics, chemistry, and biology, the demand for portable, lightweight integrated microsystems is relentless. These devices are getting exponentially smaller, increasingly used in everything from video games, hearing aids, and pacemakers to more intricate biomedical engineering and military applications. Edited by Kris Iniewski, a revolutionary in the field of advanced semiconductor materials, Integrated Microsystems: Electronics, Photonics, and Biotechnology focuses on techniques for optimized design and fabrication of these intelligent miniaturized devices and systems. Composed of contributions from experts in academia and industry around the world, this reference covers processes compatible with CMOS integrated circuits, which combine computation, communications, sensing, and actuation capabilities. Light on math and physics, with a greater emphasis on microsystem design and configuration and electrical engineering, this book is organized in three sections—Microelectronics and Biosystems, Photonics and Imaging, and Biotechnology and MEMs. It addresses key topics, including physical and chemical sensing, imaging, smart actuation, and data fusion and management. Using tables, figures, and equations to help illustrate concepts, contributors examine and explain the potential of emerging applications for areas including biology, nanotechnology, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), microfluidics, and photonics.

This book explores the unique advantages and large inherent transmission capacity of optical fiber communication systems. The long-term and high-risk research challenges of optical transceivers are analyzed with a view to sustaining the seemingly insatiable demand for bandwidth. A broad coverage of topics relating to the design of high-speed optical devices and integrated circuits, oriented to low power, low cost, and small area, is discussed.Written by specialists with many years of research and engineering experience in the field of optical fiber communication, this book is essential for an audience dedicated to the development of integrated electronic systems for optical communication applications. It can also be used as a supplementary text for graduate courses on optical transceiver IC design.