The Internet and Smartphones: The Surface Emitting Lasers Within

Many internet facilities are based on computers and high-speed optical fiber communication lines, and our own computers play an important role. The main line is laid by a company, but this will use the existing utility poles, roads, railways, tunnels, etc., and the construction of the branch line is paid for by subscribers. There is no exchange facility in the internet, so a computer at an intermediate provider instructs where to send mail. Among the communication lines, surface emitting lasers are often used in LANs. I did not think that the internet would lead to the practical application of surface emitting lasers. The common sense in fiber-optic communications in Japan was fixed on using single-mode fiber and long-wavelength single-mode semiconductor lasers. Even as an author, the intent behind the invention of the surface emitting laser was originally a single-mode laser, so it can be said that I was released from the curse of this stereotype or prejudice.