skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Life-testing oxide confined VCSELs: Too good to last?

Conference ·
OSTI ID:220598

The use of native oxides (selective oxidation) in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers has produced dramatic improvements in these laser diodes but has also been suspected of causing poor reliability because of incidental reports of short lifetimes and physical considerations. Here we discuss the results of thousands of hours life-tests for oxide confined and implant confined devices at current densities from 1 to 12 kA/cm{sup 2}. There was a single infant mortality failure from a sample of 14 oxide confined lasers with the remainder showing relatively stable operation. The failed device is analyzed in terms of light current characteristics and near-field electroluminescence images, and potential screening criteria are proposed.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
220598
Report Number(s):
SAND-96-0696C; CONF-960163-8; ON: DE96006989
Resource Relation:
Conference: Photonics West `96: conference on quantum well and superlattice physics VI, San Jose, CA (United States), 27 Jan - 2 Feb 1996; Other Information: PBD: [1996]
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English