Can cheaper lasers handle short distances?
14 days ago
- #Data Center
- #Optical Technology
- #VCSELs
- VCSELs are being explored for non-photonic applications, especially in data centers for short-distance communications.
- Optical technology is transitioning from long-haul to shorter distances, with fiber moving closer to servers.
- Efforts are focused on integrating lasers with silicon, addressing reliability, temperature sensitivity, and energy consumption.
- Distributed feedback lasers (DFBs) are currently used but are expensive and have limitations for data center applications.
- Temperature control is a major challenge for lasers, affecting signal quality and reliability.
- Co-packaged optics (CPO) and linear pluggable optics (LPO) are emerging solutions but are still in development.
- VCSELs offer advantages like lower power consumption and easier integration but face challenges with wavelength and modulation speed.
- New developments in VCSEL technology aim to improve temperature tolerance and efficiency for data center use.
- Quantum-dot lasers and other innovations are being researched to overcome current limitations.
- The future of VCSELs in data centers depends on overcoming technical challenges and achieving commercial viability.