Applied Optoelectronics Inc (AOI) of Sugar Land, near Houston, TX, USA, a manufacturer of fiber-optic access network products (including components, modules and equipment) for the internet data-center, cable TV broadband, and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) markets, has launched laser diodes operating at a data rate of up to 25Gb/s.
The new distributed feedback (DFB) lasers are designed for next-generation data centers, where interconnect speeds of 25Gb/s will enable higher data throughput, reduced power consumption, and reduced size.
AOI's proprietary laser manufacturing process, using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), is conducted in-house at a fab in Sugar Land.
"AOI's 18-year history of innovation as a manufacturer of advanced laser diodes has provided a solid foundation of experience, which we have leveraged in the design of these new 25Gb/s devices," says Dr Alex Anselm, VP & head of AOI's Semiconductor Products Division. "Directly modulating lasers at such high frequencies requires precise control over the epitaxy process as well as many novel design features in the devices themselves," he adds. "By utilizing our in-house fab, we were able to optimize the design quickly and expect to move rapidly into production."
Key technical highlights of the products include: low threshold current (<8mA); high slope efficiency (>0.25W/A); fast rise/fall time (<20ps); a proprietary high-yield device process; and compliance with the Telcordia GR-468 reliability requirements.
The lasers are expected to be used in 100Gb/s QSFP-28 transceivers and light engines, including CLR4 and PSM4, for data-center applications.
Samples are available now, with production beginning in fourth-quarter 2015.
