Accelerated aging of 100-mW cw multiple-stripe GaAlAs lasers grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

Abstract

Lifetime characteristics of multiple‐stripe, multi‐quantum‐well lasers operating in the 810‐nm wavelength region at 100 mW cw and heat sink temperatures of 30, 70, and 100 °C are reported. Three failure modes were identified as dark line defect formation during early burn‐in, gradual degradation at lower temperatures, and thermal resistance increases for long‐term, high‐temperature testing. Based upon gradual degradation data, the median operating life at 30 °C is projected to be 22 000 h, with a mean time to failure of 31 000 h. Actual extended life testing at 30 °C supports the validity of this projection.