SURFACE-EMITTING LASER LOGIC

In the future optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEICs) are destined to evolve into sophisticated functional circuitry upon which a multiplicity of applications will be based such as: optical communications, optical interconnects, optical computing, optical memory, laser printing and scanning, visual displays, pattern recognition, and neral networks. This evolution of OEICs involves the integration of phototransmitters (semiconductor lasers and light-emitting diodes), photoreceivers (photodetectors and phototransistors), spatial-light modulators transistors (bipolar and field-effect), diodes, resistors and capacitors, and micro-optic components (e.g. micro lenses). Our efforts to date and future directions are described which are concentrated on the integration of vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser diodes (VCSELs) with transistors, photoreceivers and micro-optic components. VCSELs, which may be patterned in high densities (over a million in a cm2) and emit light perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, have an ideal light-emitting geometry for the above-mentioned applications and for integration with micro-optic components. Our effects to develop monolithic surfaCe-Emitting Laser Logic devices are described which are referred to as CELLs consisting of phototransistors, current controlled bipolar transistors. and voltage-controlled field-effect transistors integrated with a VCSEL to form optically and electrically addressable photonic switching devices having high contrast. included are reports of recent progress in decreasing VCSEL series resistance and therefore operating voltage, and an optically-pumped visible-emitting (657 nm) VCSEL. Also discussed are the integration of micro-optics with VCSELs. Finally combinations of OEIC components and subassemblies and their applications to several of the above-mentioned photonic switching applications are described.