Effects of 2 MeV proton irradiation on operating wavelength and leakage current of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers

We investigate the effect of 2 MeV proton radiation on high-speed oxide-confined vertical cavity surface emitting lasers. Fluences in the range of (phi)=2.5*10^12/ p/cm/sup 2/ to (phi)=5*10^14/ p/cm/sup 2/ were studied and laser threshold current was found to degrade linearly with fluence according to a damage factor of K/sub I/=2.77*10^-15 cm/sup 2//p. Laser operating wavelength increased with fluence and experienced a maximum (Delta)(lambda)/(lambda) of ~0.71% at (phi)=5 *10^14 p/cm/sup 2/. Leakage current also increases as a result of the proton irradiation. We propose a degradation model based on mobility reduction and carrier removal.