Vol. 53, No. 2        January 26, 2001

Microelectronics

First Solid State Ultraviolet Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (UV-VCSEL): Sandians and researchers at Brown University have used the results of in situ stress studies to design an AlGaN/GaN distributed Bragg reflector. This reflector enabled the first demonstration of an InGaN UV-VCSEL. These lasers will be part of a revolution in white lighting where current lighting will be replaced with solid state lighting as envisioned in the National Solid State Lighting Initiative. The improved efficiency of solid state lighting will result in a huge energy savings and pollution reduction. (1100) Robert Biefeld, rmbiefe@sandia.gov

Sandia researchers, with industry partners Cielo, Inc., have developed the first 1.3-micron electrically pumped vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) grown on gallium arsenide. The 1.3-micron wavelength, which is optimal for ultra-high bandwidth data communication over glass fiber optics, is also transparent to silicon, allowing considerable flexibility in incorporating such a photonic device with silicon microsystem structures. (1700, 1100) Peter Esherick, esheric@sandia.gov

Last modified: Jan. 31, 2001

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