Latest advances in VCSEL technology for next-generation data center network [Invited]

Directly modulated vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) have long dominated the data center optical interconnect market, attributed to VCSELs’ cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency. However, numerous challenges are currently being addressed to enhance device characteristics and modulation speed, aligning with the evolving trends in next-generation data centers that underscore the need for enhanced communication rates and extended transmission distances. This review delves into VCSEL structure design, methods for achieving single-mode control, techniques for fabricating long-wavelength VCSELs, and advanced packaging technology for VCSEL arrays, offering insights into recent research on high-speed single-mode VCSEL development and related technologies.