Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers Technology and Applications

Since first coming into existence in the early 90s, the vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) has made several quantum leaps in performance. The performance of VCSELs now exceeds that of edge-emitting lasers in many respects, and offers a superior optical beam and much easier monolithic integrability. As the VCSEL technology improves further, and their number and variety multiply, their potential applications will likely expand at a rapid pace. Vertical-cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers: Technology and Applications addresses two main objectives. It provides the researcher and device engineer with a reference guide to understanding the physical principles as well as the practical design concepts of VCSELs. Furthermore, it provides the system designer or application engineer with a review of the properties of VCSELs, and an overview of some of the applications in which the VCSEL has already played an important role. This book features contributions from prominent researchers in the field.