Laser diode burn-in and reliability testing

More than 99 percent of all lasers manufactured in the world today are semiconductor laser diodes. Reliability is a concern in every laser diode application, whether it is a simple $10 laser pointer or a space-qualified optical transmitter link. The commercial success of a laser supplier rests largely on his ability to develop a robust manufacturing process that consistently produces reliable devices combined with the quantitative assurances he can provide to his customers proving the reliability of his devices. Over the past two decades, laser diode reliability testing techniques and equipment have evolved to support the diverse development of laser diodes.