A Study on the Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser

Abstract

In contrast to traditional edge-emitting semiconductor lasers, also known as in-plane lasers, which emit from surfaces created by cleaving individual chips out of a wafer, the vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) is a type of semiconductor laser diode with laser beam emission perpendicular from the top surface. Computer mice, fiber-optic communications, laser printers, Face ID, and smartglasses are just a few of the laser products that incorporate VCSELs. [22][23]

Introduction

The text presents a detailed overview of laser technology, including its definition, historical development, working principles, characteristics, and an advanced laser type—Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs).

A laser is a device that emits light through stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation, producing coherent, highly directional, and nearly monochromatic light. The first working laser was built in 1960 by Theodore Maiman, based on earlier theoretical work by Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow. Lasers differ from ordinary light sources due to their spatial coherence (tight focusing and long-distance collimation) and temporal coherence (narrow spectral width or ultrashort femtosecond pulses).

Lasers have wide-ranging applications in industry, medicine, communication, electronics, defense, entertainment, and scientific research, including cutting and welding, photolithography, laser surgery, barcode scanning, fiber-optic communication, military targeting, and advanced lighting systems. Related devices include masers, which operate at microwave frequencies, while lasers operate from infrared to gamma-ray ranges.

The historical development traces laser origins from Einstein’s 1916 theory of stimulated emission, through the invention of the maser, to the creation of optical lasers such as the ruby laser, helium–neon gas laser, and semiconductor lasers, followed by rapid commercialization and widespread use.

The principle of laser operation is governed by quantum mechanics and involves absorption, spontaneous emission, and stimulated emission. Laser action requires population inversion, achieved through external pumping. Practical lasers use three-level or four-level energy systems, with four-level lasers enabling continuous operation.

A typical laser consists of a gain medium, a pumping source, and an optical resonator formed by mirrors. These components produce light that is coherent, collimated, and nearly monochromatic. Lasers may operate in continuous-wave or pulsed modes, with pulsed lasers achieving extremely high peak powers and ultrashort durations.

The text also explains VCSELs, which emit light perpendicular to the wafer surface. VCSELs offer advantages such as high manufacturing yield, easier testing, low threshold currents, and scalability. They use distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirrors, quantum wells, and current confinement techniques such as oxide apertures or ion implantation. VCSELs are widely used in optical communication, especially around 850 nm and 1310 nm wavelengths, due to their efficiency, reliability, and compatibility with optical fibers.

Conclusion

The vertical-cavity surface-emitting laseris a type of semiconductor laser diode with laser beam emission perpendicular from the top surface, as opposed to conventional edge-emitting semiconductor lasers, also called in-plane lasers, which emit from surfaces formed by cleaving individual chips out of a wafer. VCSELs are used in laser goods such as computer mice, fiber-optic communications, laser printers, Face ID, and smartglasses [22] [23].

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Muhammad Arif Bin Jalil. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.