Raman microprobe study of the time development of AlGaAs single quantum well laser facet temperature on route to catastrophic breakdown

Abstract

The facet temperature and output power of uncoated AlGaAs single quantum well lasers operated at constant current were measured as a function of time until catastrophical breakdown. The temperature rise is observed to consist of two regimes−an initial linear temperature rise accompanied by a gradual power degradation followed by a rapid nonlinear temperature rise at what appears to be a critical temperature leading to catastrophical optical damage (COD). The time to COD and the pre-COD facet temperature rise rate are found to have a strong dependence on the diode output power. This facet temperature behavior plus the data obtained from an argon laser probe beam induced heating experiment provide valuable information regarding the mechanisms leading to COD.