A Cathodoluminescence Study of the Defects Created by the Degradation of High Power AlGaAs/GaAs Multiemitter Laser Bars

Abstract

In this work we study the defects responsible for the degradation of high power AlGaAs based laser bars. The mirror and cavity degradations are studied by spectral cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging. Following the analysis of the CL images the main defects generated during the laser operation are revealed, both facet and intracavity defects are observed. A thermomechanical model is used to describe the very beginning of the defect formation. The defects are formed by a local plastic deformation induced by local heating at defects.