Data transfer is enabled by a VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) that transmits the information and a photodiode that receives and translates the information. A light source and a light detector-based fiber-optic communication link are critical in meeting datacom’s ever-increasing demand for higher bit rates at lower cost, lower power and high reliability.
While the edge emitter laser based fiber-optic links are used to communicate data over thousands of miles, an enormous number of short-reach, fiber-optic links using VCSELs and photodiodes are deployed inside data centers for this purpose. These links are a part of critical infrastructure for communication in high performance computing as well.