Annealing and aging in GaInP-based red VCSELs

GaInP-based red VCSELs have been under investigation for use in data communications through inexpensive plastic fiber, which has low loss from 570-650 nm. However, red VCSEL lifetimes have generally been no greater than a few thousand hours, a factor of at least 10 to 100 less than is desired. We have been studying the aging process in red VCSELs with the hope of improving their reliability.