The Quest for Ultraviolet Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers

We daily rely upon vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) for facial recognition and data communication. These lasers are now experiencing exponential growth and serves in other applications as well such as oxygen monitoring in combustion processes and in anesthetized patients in hospitals and as a source of heating in industry in the form of a large-sized array. The large interest for this laser class is linked to its beneficial qualities such as low threshold current, circular-symmetric low-divergent output beam, high efficiency, compactness, and low fabrication cost due to on-wafer testing. Due to these advantages, there is a strong push to realize VCSELs in other wavelength regimes, beyond the commercially available infrared and red. This would open completely new markets such as flood lights, projectors, sterilization, and medical diagnosis and treatment.