IQE helps push VCSEL optical communications per...

IQE plc (AIM: IQE, "IQE" or the "Group"), the leading global supplier
of advanced semiconductor  wafer products and  wafer services to  the
semiconductor industry, announces that VCSEL optoelectronic materials
produced  at  its   Cardiff  manufacturing   facility  have   enabled
researchers in  Sweden  to  produce  optical  communications  devices
capable of operating at speeds in excess of 10 Gbit/s.

IQE  provided  epitaxial  materials  for  a  research  group  led  by
Professor Larsson of  the Photonics Laboratory  at the Department  of
Microtechnology and Nanoscience,  Chalmers University of  Technology,
in Göteborg.

Professor  Anders  Larsson   of  Sweden's   Chalmers  University   of
Technology said:

"The vertical cavity  surface emitting laser  (VCSEL) has become  the
laser of  choice for  short reach  data communication  links at  data
rates up to  10 Gbit/s.  It has  been commonly  believed that  VCSELs
operating at rates much higher than 10 Gbit/s will have to be  scaled
down in  size  to  achieve  the  modulation  bandwidth  needed,  thus
operating at current densities too high for reliable operation.

"Our research has  shown that this  is not necessarily  the case.  By
optimizing the  VCSEL  design  with  respect  to  differential  gain,
capacitance, electrical resistance and thermal impedance we have been
able to show there  is potential for  reliable operation of  directly
modulated 850 nm  VCSELs at  very high  data rates  for future,  high
capacity data communication links."

Dr Drew Nelson, IQE's Chief Executive, said:

"The  rapid  growth   in  video  and   data  streaming  devices   and
applications is driving the demand for reliable, high speed lasers to
support data  rates of  up to  100 GBits/s.  This important  work  by
Professor Larsson's  group  using IQE's  materials  demonstrates  the
clear, potential capabilities for  VCSELs to deliver the  performance
needed for a wide range of next generation video and high speed  data
products."


Contacts:

IQE plc ([phone])
Andrew Joel
Chris Meadows



NOTE TO EDITORS
About IQE
www.iqep.com
IQE is the leading global supplier of advanced semiconductor wafers
with products that cover a diverse range of applications, supported
by an innovative outsourced foundry services portfolio that allows
the Group to provide a 'one stop shop' for the wafer needs of the
world's leading semiconductor manufacturers.

IQE uses advanced crystal growth technology (epitaxy) to manufacture
and supply bespoke semiconductor wafers ('epi-wafers') to the major
chip manufacturing companies, who then use these wafers to make the
chips which form the key components of virtually all high technology
systems. IQE is unique in being able to supply wafers using all of
the leading crystal growth technology platforms.

IQE's products are found in many leading-edge consumer,
communication, computing and industrial applications, including a
complete range of wafer products for the wireless industry, such as
mobile handsets and wireless infrastructure, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, base
stations, GPS, and satellite communications; optical communications,
optical storage (CD, DVD), laser optical mouse, laser printers &
photocopiers, thermal imagers, leading-edge medical products,
barcode, high efficiency LEDs and a variety of advanced silicon based
systems.

The manufacturers of these chips are increasingly seeking to
outsource wafer production to specialist foundries such as IQE in
order to reduce overall wafer costs and accelerate time to market.

IQE also provides bespoke R&D services to deliver customised
materials for specific applications and offers specialist technical
staff to manufacture to specification either at its own facilities or
on the customer's own sites. The Group is also able to leverage its
global purchasing volumes to reduce the cost of raw materials. In
this way IQE's outsourced services, provide compelling benefits in
terms of flexibility and predictability of cost, thereby
significantly reducing operating risk.

IQE operates six manufacturing facilities located in Cardiff (two)
and Milton Keynes in the UK; in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Somerset,
New Jersey in the USA; and Singapore. The Group also has 11 sales
offices located in major economic centres worldwide.

About Chalmers


http://www.chalmers.se/en
Chalmers is a university of technology in which research and teaching
are conducted on a broad front within technology, natural science and
architecture. Our inspiration lies in the joy of discovery and the
desire to learn. Underlying everything we do is a wish to contribute
to sustainable development both in Sweden and world-wide.
Our research work deals ultimately with improving people's
conditions, and we often cross traditional boundaries in order to
solve the problems of the future. Chalmers has become strong within
several areas of science, and some of our research leads its field
internationally. We wish in particular to develop and strengthen our
research in the fields of bioscience, information technology,
environmental science and nanotechnology.
Chalmers is a pioneer in Europe in the field of start-up companies,
and has built up an efficient system of innovation in order to find
applications in research into the formation of companies.
Chalmers has great aspirations to develop continually by opening
doors to the outside world and by thinking innovatively. We have a
close and productive collaboration with business and society at
large. In this way we reinforce our own development, at the same time
as we contribute to the growth of society.
Chalmers was founded in 1829 as a result of a donation from the
director of the Swedish East India Company, William Chalmers.