IN-VACUO RESPONSES OF AN ALGAAS VERTICAL-CAVITY SURFACE-EMITTING LASER-IRRADIATED BY 4.5 MEV PROTONS

Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) have high potential f or space applications, yet little is known of their sensitivity to rad iation under vacuum conditions. The first observations of a commercial ly available proton implanted quantum well AlGaAs VCSEL operating at 8 50 nm in vacuo and irradiated by 4.5 MeV protons by a scanning ion mic robeam is presented. Degradation of L-I-V responses at a proton dose o f 1.19 MGy are discussed with particular attention drawn to heating ar ising from increased nonradiative carrier recombination and that resul ting from the vacuum environment.