Emitters for optical interconnection

In order to provide cost effective solutions for different applications in optical interconnection, different approaches are needed. Cost and reliability are important considerations. The wavelength region between 900 nm and 1000 nm is very attractive since cheap Si-detectors can be used, the GaAs substrate is transparent and the fabricated Qw laserdiodes and LEDs have high performances and high reliability. Parallel optical interconnects require high performance (low threshold, high yield), densely packed laser arrays using fiber ribbon. For long distance communication, more emphasis is laid on the power budget and coupling efficiencies. If in parallel optical interconnect the very high modulation speed of laserdiodes is not really needed, InAlGaAs LED-arrays may be used, because of their stability, robustness and the possibility to integrate diffractive lenses on the backside of the component, which makes the component suitable for free-space optical interconnect. The better performances of microcavity LEDs will enhance this option even more.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.