Neutron and gamma radiation effects on GaaLaS laser diodes. Final report

Technical Report · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:6358799

Ackerman, H; Walsh, Jr, T E

The effects of two kinds of radiation on the performance of double heterojunction aluminum-gallium-arsenide (AlGaAs) laser diodes were investigated. One set of diodes received neutron radiation in a nuclear reactor; another set was exposed to gamma radiation from a cobalt-60 source. Each set contained two types of lasers, an RCA C30127 and a Laser Diode Laboratories LCW-10, both designed to operate continuously at room temperature. At neutron fluences of 10 to the 14th power n/sq cm, both types of diodes showed significant decreases in power output and external quantum efficiency, and increases in threshold current. There was no significant change in bias voltage versus forward current or in spectral composition of the light outputs at neutron fluences up to 10 to the 15th power n/sq cm. Under gamma radiation, the C30127 laser exhibited rapid degradation. A dosage of 10 to the 4th power rad(Si) reduced the output power by half. Threshold current, efficiency, and intensity distribution were all adversely affected. The damage factor at constant voltage was 1.5 x 10 to the minus 7th power rad to the minus 1 power. The LCW-10 performance improved to a dosage of 10 to the 6th power rad(Si) before degradation began. After 10 to the 8th power rad(Si), power output was still comparable to preirradiation values. Beam characteristics were not appreciably altered. The damage factor at constant voltage was 4 x 10 to the minus 8th power rad to the minus 1 power.

• Research Organization: Air Force Weapons Lab., Kirtland AFB, NM (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6358799
• Report Number(s): AD-A-091795
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
440200 -- Radiation Effects on Instrument Components
Instruments
or Electronic Systems
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ALUMINIUM ARSENIDES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
COBALT
COBALT 60
COBALT ISOTOPES
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELEMENTS
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
GAMMA SOURCES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IRRADIATION
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LASERS
METALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PERFORMANCE
PNICTIDES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTORS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES