Advances in design and application of compact VCSEL arrays: from multicore fiber to optical wireless and beyond

VCSEL arrays can play an important role in the increasing the data throughput of VCSEL-based optical interconnects both due to the need to increase the channel density and due to new emerging technologies like optical wireless. In this work we show the progress in the development of high-speed VCSEL arrays suitable for multicore fiber transmission leading to an increase of the total throughput through single fiber to 600 Gbps. We also discuss a novel type of compact VCSEL mini-arrays capable of high-speed modulation and coherent emission at the same time. Photon-photon resonance and coherent effects can help increase the resonant frequency and the bandwidth of the VCSELs and enable devices capable of 100 GHz operation.