Catastrophic optical damage of high power InGaAs/AlGaAs laser diodes

Abstract

The defects generated by the catastrophic optical degradation (COD) of high power laser diodes have been examined using cathodoluminescence (CL). Discontinuous dark lines that correspond to different levels of damage have been observed along the ridge. Finite element methods have been applied to solve a physical model for the degradation of the diodes that explicitly considers the thermal and mechanical properties of the laser structure. According to this model, the COD is triggered by a local temperature enhancement that gives rise to thermal stresses leading to the generation of dislocations. Damage is initially localized in the QW, and when it propagates to the waveguide layers the laser ends its life.

Effect of thermal lensing and the micrometric degraded regions on the catastrophic optical damage process of high-power laser diodes

“…In previous works, we have set-up a thermomechanical model accounting for COD [13][14][15]. This model has been further refined [16,17], by focusing on the role played by the nanoscale size of the active layers of the laser [18] and different types of laser structures [19,20]. The propagation of the DLDs, however, has not comparatively received such a wide attention [8].…”

Nanoscale effects on the thermal and mechanical properties of AlGaAs/GaAs quantum well laser diodes: influence on the catastrophic optical damage

“…On the basis of these scenarios, physical models have to be built up in order to delimit the clues of the degradation with the aim of establishing causality. In previous articles, we have identified the main defects generated during the laser operation that lead to the failure [4][5][6]. This analysis was carried out by electron beam excited techniques, e.g.…”

Применение покрытий AlN для защиты поверхности гетероструктур системы AlGaAs/GaAs от взаимодействия с атмосферным кислородом

“…Особое значение указанные требования имеют для мощных полупроводниковых лазеров, которые во время работы подвергаются экстремально высоким нагрузкам ввиду большой плотности мощности генерируемого излучения. Для таких лазеров особенно остро стоит вопрос катастрофической оптической деградации зеркал (COMD), при возникновении которой в короткие сроки падает выходная мощность лазера и устройство выходит из строя [1][2][3]. Одним из методов борьбы с деградацией зеркал является пассивация выходных граней гетероструктуры, например, с помощью химической обработки или нанесения специальных покрытий, предотвращающих взаимодействие выходного резонатора с атмосферой [4][5][6][7].…”