Proton damage in LEDs with wavelengths above the silicon wavelength cutoff

Proton damage is investigated for LEDs with wavelengths of 1050 and 1550 nm. The results are compared to results for an advanced AlGaAs double heterojunction LED. Unlike the AlGaAs LED, light output degradation for the long wavelength LEDs became nonlinear with current after irradiation; more degradation was observed at lower forward currents. Minimal annealing was observed in the long wavelength LEDs during forward current injection. Mechanisms are proposed that are related to the material properties.