Photopumped long wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers using strain-compensated multiple quantum wells

We report optically pumped long wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) made of strain-compensated multiple quantum wells. The structure of the VCSELs consists of 30 pairs of compressive strained wells and tensile strained barriers as the gain medium and Si/SiO2 dielectric mirrors. The lasers operate at 1.59 μm wavelength. The threshold power density was measured to be 3 kW/cm2 at room temperature, corresponding to a threshold current density of about 2 kA/cm2. The VCSELs have a characteristic temperature T0 of 90 K between 10 and 60 °C, and 60 K from 70 to 110 °C.