Analog modulation performance of red (670 nm) oxide confined VCSELs

Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) are attractive for fiber optical distribution of RF-signals in cost sensitive applications such as intra-building antenna remoting in wireless networks. VCSELs emitting at 850 nm, together with low modal dispersion multimode fibers, are expected to provide adequate performance for such applications over distances of the order of 100 meters. VCSELs emitting at 650 nm, together with graded index plastic optical fiber (POF), may offer the ultimate low cost solution for shorter distance transmission of the analog signals. For this purpose we have fabricated GaAs-based oxide confined VCSELs with an InGaP/InGaAlP MQW active region for emission at 670 nm and characterized their analog modulation properties in the frequency range 0.1-3 GHz using two-tone measurements.