Nova Crystals Demonstrates World's First Practical 1.3-Micron VCSEL for Telecom and Datacom Optical Networks
San Jose, CA. Nova Crystals Inc., a developer of laser and LED components for fiber-optic data/telecommunications applications, has demonstrated the world s first practical, electrically pumped, 1.3-micron vertical cavity surface emitting laser diode (VCSEL) with the highest power reported to date.
This landmark device delivers all of the operating characteristics necessary to enable telecom/datacom transmission applications, including a continuous wave (CW) output power of 1 mW (without active cooling), a bandwidth of 2.5 Gbps and an operating voltage of less than 2 V.
Most important, this source is inherently reliable (up to 100 degrees Celsius) and robust enough for commercial use, and lends itself to low-cost, high-volume manufacture.
Nova Crystals achieved this breakthrough by applying a number of device design and process innovations to traditional InP VCSEL technology. The resulting VCSEL is essentially plug-compatible with the standard SONET/SDH transmitter modules that presently use Fabry-Perot edge emitting laser diodes, and even offers similar electronic characteristics, such as low series resistance, as well as a monolithically integrated output power detector. However, these VCSELs offer much more desirable optical characteristics, in this case a single mode, symmetrical beam with a divergence of only 18 degrees FWHM. This enables efficient fiber coupling using optics, which are far less expensive than those used with highly divergent elliptically shaped beams from edge emitters.
The VCSEL s unique combination of characteristics makes it particularly attractive to those developing longer-reach Gigabit Ethernet/Fiber-Channel modules for LAN/WAN systems, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks, low-cost WDM systems and other SONET/SDH applications.
"Several other research groups have demonstrated 1.3-micron VCSELs in the lab, but none of these have combined all the performance, high-reliability and cost factors necessary for a commercially viable device," noted Felix Ejeckam, chief executive officer of Nova Crystals.
"We plan on making units available for sampling and testing in October 2000. This industry milestone device establishes Nova s new leadership in the hotly competitive long-wavelength VCSELs arena."
"This VCSEL allows the gigabit Ethernet LAN industry to transmit data over 40 km without the need for repeaters and amplifiers, a very significant achievement for the datacom industry," added Lester F. Eastman, John L. Given Foundation Chair Professor of Engineering at Cornell University (Ithaca, N.Y.) and also chairman of Nova s Scientific Advisory Board.
Nova Crystals, founded in September 1998, develops and manufactures fiber-optic data/telecommunications components based on its proprietary process and wafer technologies, as well as high- efficiency LEDs for display and illumination applications.
Nova Crystals is a privately held corporation backed by strategic and venture capital. The company was founded by leading fiber-optic researchers at Cornell University.
Contact: Nova Crystals Inc Tyrone Mitchell, Tel: 408/434-6682, ext. 222 Fax: 408/434-6330 (fax) ty_mitchell@novacrystals.com http://www.novacrystals.com
Nova Crystals Inc
Tyrone Mitchell,
Tel: 408/434-6682, ext. 222
Fax: 408/434-6330 (fax)
ty_mitchell@novacrystals.com
http://www.novacrystals.com
E-mail: ty_mitchell@novacrystals.com
Web site: http://www.novacrystals.com
