High-power InAlGaAs/GaAs and AlGaAs/GaAs semiconductor laser arrays emitting at 808 nm

Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth, device fabrication, and reliable operation of high-power InAlGaAs/GaAs and GaAlAs/GaAs laser arrays are described. Both InAlGaAs/GaAs and AlGaAs/GaAs laser arrays reached maximum continuous wave output powers of 40 W at room temperature. The external quantum efficiency was 50% and 45% for the InAlGaAs/GaAs and AlGaAs/GaAs laser arrays, respectively. Threshold current density for InAlGaAs/GaAs and AlGaAs/GaAs lasers was 303 A/cm/sup 2/ and 379 A/cm/sup 2/, respectively. While the current of AlGaAs laser arrays went up significantly after 1000 h of operation at a constant power of 40 W, InAlGaAs laser arrays had an increase in the injection current of less than 4% after 3000 h at 40 W.