Modulating AOC Oxide Isolated VCSELs
In the last decade, proton isolated VCSELs have become the industry standard for short wavelength (850nm) gigabit data communications links on multimode fiber. As the speeds have increased beyond 2Gbps, however, the oxide isolated VCSEL is increasingly the preferred source. While proton isolated VCSELs can serve this application, oxide isolated VCSELs have proven easier to drive at the higher speeds. Many characteristics are independent of the isolation technology, so the reader is referred to the Advanced Optical Components VCSEL website for general information on VCSEL characteristics. The present note augments that more general information with specifics related to driving oxide isolated VCSELs at high bit rates. Generally, this information relates to TO-can packaged and connectorized VCSELs operating at speeds up to approximately three gigabits per second. A separate application note deals with operation at even higher speeds.
