Title:  VCSEL Modeling and Parameter Extraction for Optical Link Simulation and Optimization

Committee:

Dr. Stephen Ralph, ECE, Chair , Advisor

Dr. Benjamin Klein, ECE

Dr. Russel Dupuis, ECE

Dr. Kent Choquette, UIUC

Dr. Duncan MacFarlane, SMU

Abstract: Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) along with multimode fiber (MMF) have long dominated the short reach data communication links. As requirements in high speed optical communications continue to increase, these systems are becoming increasingly complex. In order to meet the growing bandwidth demand, optical links are commonly turning to equalization, and multilevel modulation formats. The need for an accurate physics-based rate equation model is critical to the design and analysis of these systems as VCSEL links move past 25Gb/s. To address these links, VCSEL bandwidth is no longer a sufficient metric, since power consumption, noise and device reliability must be taken into account. Therefore there is a growing need for computer-aided design which would help optimize optical links before deployment.