Effect of neutron irradiation on laser diode properties

This paper examines the effects of neutron irradiation on several properties on both single and multiple stripe laser diodes. Prior to fast neutron irradiation, total light output as a function of laser current, threshold current, near field pattern, far field pattern, and laser output wavelength spectra were measured at room temperature. These measurements were then repeated at intermittent neutron fluence levels. It was observed that the threshold current increased with neutron fluence for all devices examined. In contrast, neutron irradiation had only an indirect effect on the remainder of the laser diode properties in that the higher currents required for operation after irradiation caused variations in these properties