High-power operational stability of 980 nm pump lasers for EDFA applications

In this paper we describe the high-power reliability performance of strained single quantum well InGaAs/AlGaAs lasers with facet passivation layers which eliminate catastrophic optical mirror damage (COMD) for practical application conditions. These so-called E2 lasers exhibit very low gradual degradation rates and have demonstrated operational integrity as pump sources for Er/sup 3+/-doped fiber amplifiers.