Vertical cavity surface-emitting laser devices

An optical communication system, comprising:

• an electrical input to receive an electrical signal;
• a laser device to emit laser light to be propagated via an optical transmission mechanism;
• and
• a modulator to modulate the laser light emitted from the laser device in order to encode data from the received electrical signal,
• wherein the laser device includes:
• a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser including a first cavity and an optical aperture to generate laser light to be emitted in a first direction;
• a second cavity transversely coupled to the first cavity to allow at least a portion of the laser light, generated in the first cavity, to be reflected within both the first cavity and the second cavity;
• and
• a mode filter positioned with respect to the first cavity to promote lasing of a selected wavelength of the light to be emitted.

A single mode, transverse-coupled cavity, vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (TCC VCSEL), comprising:

• a primary cavity including an active layer, a plurality of reflective layers, and a primary optical aperture to cause lasing of light of one or more wavelengths in a first direction;
• a secondary cavity transversely coupled to the primary cavity to allow at least a portion of the light, generated in the primary cavity, to be reflected within both the primary cavity and the secondary cavity and to provide feedback to the primary cavity;
• and
• a mode filter positioned with respect to the primary cavity to promote lasing of a selected wavelength of the light to be emitted.