Introduction to Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) and Applications

Level: Introductory Length: 4 hours Format: In-Person Lecture Intended Audience: Students, scientists, application engineers, and managers with interests and/or job responsibilities in optoelectronic systems, components, and devices. Basic device concepts will be taught, so only a general background in optics and physics will be assumed. Description: This course will review the principles of operation and technological advances of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs). The course will begin with an introduction to microcavity laser diode physics, the semiconductor gain media, and the underlying semiconductor fabrication technologies. Specific examples of infrared and visible VCSELs will be included. The major application areas of VCSELs in data communication and sensing will be covered, as well as recent advances in semiconductor microcavity lasers and their emerging commercial applications. Learning Outcomes: This course will enable you to: - explain the differences between edge emitting and vertical cavity lasers - recognize design issues pertaining to the laser mirrors and active region - describe the fabrication techniques and resulting device structures - recognize typical optical and electrical properties of VCSELs - discuss the performance of commercial VCSELs - discuss recent VCSEL research topics and results Instructor(s): Kent D. Choquette is the Able Bliss Professor of Engineering in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Illinois. Prof. Choquette leads the Photonic Device Research Group and his research interests center around the design and characterization of VCSELs and other optoelectronic devices, as well as novel fabrication technologies. Professor Choquette has authored over 300 publications and has presented numerous invited talks and tutorials on VCSELs. He is a Fellow of SPIE, a Fellow of the IEEE, a Fellow of the Optical Society, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Event: SPIE Photonics West 2025 Course Held: 28 January 2025