VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser) technology has moved from a specialized telecommunications component to a foundational technology for consumer electronics, automotive safety, and AI infrastructure.
Unlike traditional lasers that emit light from the edge of the chip, VCSELs emit light from the top surface, allowing them to be manufactured and tested in massive arrays on a single wafer.
Multi-Junction Stacks: Manufacturers (like Lumentum and Coherent) are now stacking 3 to 5 laser junctions on a single chip. This allows for 70W to 400W peak power, making solid-state Lidar for self-driving cars much more affordable.
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