Semiconductor Lasers and VCSEL History

In this chapter, we first briefly describe the background of semiconductor lasers including the light emission from homo‐ and hetero‐structured lasers. And then, we define the basic concept of edge‐emitting laser and vertical‐cavity surface‐emitting laser, VCSEL (pronounced “vic‐cell”).Secondly, we focus on the history of semiconductor laser research and development and introduce the idea of VCSEL from the beginning of research. We extend the discussion on development stages with the timeline of the VCSEL beginning with conception in 1977 that led to the VCSEL industry today.Thirdly, we describe the key features of VCSELs and their mode behaviors for their applications in communication and sensing.Lastly, for quick readers, we survey the VCSEL photonics commercial application systems from high‐speed LANs in Data Communications, computer mouse, 3D face recognition in mobile phones, LiDAR in automotive and home appliance and industrial heating and so on.