TEMPERATURE PROFILE ALONG THE CAVITY AXIS OF HIGH-POWER QUANTUM-WELL LASERS DURING OPERATION

Measurements of the temperature distribution along the cavity of 0.5 W AlGaAs quantum well lasers are presented. The spatial distribution of temperature was determined by measuring the spectral shift of electro luminescence emitted through a window in the GaAs substrate metallizat ion. The average temperature of the active layer is 10-15 K higher tha n the heatsink temperature at 0.5 W output. Facet temperatures can exc eed the average active layer temperature by over 100 K. Data are also presented illustrating the temperature profile at different drive curr ents between threshold and the maximum operating current. A temperatur e profile of a laser with a damaged front facet is presented, showing a hot region that is twice the size of the defect.