Reliability of 1300-nm laser diode for space applications

Abstract

The use of electro-optic devices for high speed digital links in space on-board systems or high bandwidth analogue links for diagnostics in large physics experiments could be limited by their reliability in radiative environment. The technology of emitters, and specially the laser diodes, is in rapid progress, driven by ground applications such as telecommunication systems. New structures created to increase performances introduce radiation sensitive areas.In space applications, particles (protons, heavy ions) can induce permanent damages as well as transient errors. Thus it is of major interest to study the vulnerability of new laser diodes structure to single particles and determine their role in the reliability of a whole data link.A transmission data link has been simulated using a high speed digital signal to modulate a 1300 nm laser diode. A Nd:YAG laser was used to simulate ionizing effects induced by transient particle irradiation on the laser diode by creating carriers only in the laser cavity. With this method, calibration of ionizing effects, error amplitude and influence of operational parameters of the link (frequency, amplitude of modulation...) have been studied. Heavy ions at different energies have been used to confirm transient effects, but the perturbation duration, too short compared with the Nd:YAG, have limited observation of the transient error due to ionizing effects. Permanent damages have been observed and their origin linked with the particle.

Diode lasers: From laboratory to industry

“…A recently presented microintegrated narrow linewidth ECDL for Rb atom interferometry experiments in space was designed with the intension for use onboard a sounding rocket to be launched in 2013 [117]. Laser diodes are also being utilized in analog/digital communication links for space applications [118,119].…”

Vulnerability of CMOS image sensors in megajoule class laser harsh environment

“…The laser diodes (TX interface in Fig. 3) used to emit the digital signals over the fibers are known to be radiation hard [12], and the photodiodes (RX interface in Fig. 2) used to receive the data and synchronization signals are located in the instrumentation zone of the OMEGA Facility, called "La Cave", where the radiation level is not significant.…”

Effects of radiation on laser diodes.

“…In fact, the first such study, 33 which appeared in 1965, was performed at Sandia. There have been several recent reports 30,31,34,35 on the application of this technique to the testing of laser diodes emitting at 1300 nm.…”