Reliability experiment of high power cm-bar arrays

High power laser diodes have found wide spread applications as pump sources for solid state lasers or in direct material processing. Due to the high electrical and optical power densities in the laser structures the reliability is still questionable. We report on lifetime testing of a high power cm-bar arrays using an automated diode array reliability experiment. This computer controlled setup operates the cm-bar array 24 hours a day, and three groups of different operating condition aging test were carried on. Analysis of the aging data suggest that the extrapolated lifetime of cm-bars at 25°C can reach 7950 hours (2.86×10
⁹
shots).