GaN-based blue micro-laser diodes for visible light communication

C Chunlei Tao (The School of Integrated Circuits, Dalian University of Technology 1 , Dalian 116024,) X Xiaoyu Ren A Aiqin Tian (Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (SINANO), Chinese Academy of Sciences 2 , Suzhou 215123,) L Leihao Sun (College of Future Information Technology, Fudan University 3 , Shanghai 200433,) X Xinyi Jiang (State Key Laboratory of Discovery and Utilization of Functional Components in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Key Laboratory of Targeted Drug Delivery and Advanced Pharmaceutics, National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products and Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University) C Chao Shen (State Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Physics and Chip Technologies) H Hezhi Zhang (The School of Integrated Circuits, Dalian University of Technology 1 , Dalian 116024,) J Jianping Liu

Abstract

Visible light communication (VLC) is attracting growing interest for energy-efficient, high-bandwidth links for next-generation data centers. GaN-based blue edge-emitting micro-laser diodes (micro-LDs) with cavity lengths down to 40 μm are demonstrated based on optical resonance between a cleaved facet and an etched facet with laterally deposited distributed Bragg reflector. The threshold current as low as 9.6 mA and slope efficiency of 0.32 W/A are achieved for an 80 μm-cavity-length device. The VLC characteristics of 140 μm micro-LD show a broader −3 dB modulation bandwidth of 429 MHz and a higher data rate of 5.3 Gbps, compared with those of standard 500 μm LD. These results demonstrate the potential application of GaN-based blue edge-emitting micro-LDs as a compact and low-power laser platform for augmented/virtual reality displays and short-distance optical communication for inter-chip optical interconnections.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 128, Issue 25
Published June 22, 2026
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (8)

C

Chunlei Tao

The School of Integrated Circuits, Dalian University of Technology 1 , Dalian 116024,

X

Xiaoyu Ren

A

Aiqin Tian

Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (SINANO), Chinese Academy of Sciences 2 , Suzhou 215123,

L

Leihao Sun

College of Future Information Technology, Fudan University 3 , Shanghai 200433,

X

Xinyi Jiang

State Key Laboratory of Discovery and Utilization of Functional Components in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Key Laboratory of Targeted Drug Delivery and Advanced Pharmaceutics, National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products and Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University

C

Chao Shen

State Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Physics and Chip Technologies

H

Hezhi Zhang

The School of Integrated Circuits, Dalian University of Technology 1 , Dalian 116024,

J

Jianping Liu