We present an analysis of a reliability assessment tailored specifically to fuzes based on laser diode assemblies. Fuzes
are required to deliver high energy in a single short pulse (micro- to milliseconds) after prolonged storage (tens of years)
in thermally non-stabilized environments. The temperature variation could easily exceed 100 degrees, and the transition
from one extreme to the other could be slow or rapid, depending on a particular application. The operating requirements
for diode laser fuzes are dramatically different from the majority of other diode laser applications and thus a reliability
assurance program for laser fuzes should reflect these differences in usage. In this paper we demonstrate that it is
possible to build accelerated aging conditions based on thermal cycling. As parameters in the accelerated thermal aging,
we used the total temperature difference between the lowest and the highest points in the cycle, and the average rate of
temperature change between the extreme points. This accelerated aging technique based on thermal cycling can predict
the performance deterioration over time after storage in thermally non-stabilized environments. The basis of this
approach can be extended to the analysis of reliability in environments with high vibration and radiation levels.
With the maturing of high-power diode laser technology, studies of laser-assisted ignition of a variety of substances are
becoming an increasingly popular research topic. Its range of applications is wide - from fusing in the defense,
construction and exploration industries to ignition in future combustion engines. Recent advances in InP-based
technology have expanded the wavelength range that can be covered by multi-watt GaAs- and InP-based diode lasers to
about 0.8 to 2 μm. With such a wide range, the wattage is no longer the sole defining factor for efficient ignition.
Ignition-related studies should include the interaction of radiation of various wavelengths with matter and the reliability
of devices based on different material systems. In this paper, we focus on the reliability of pulsed laser diodes for use in
ignition applications. We discuss the existing data on the catastrophic optical damage (COD) of the mirrors of the GaAsbased
laser diodes and come up with a non-destructive test method to predict the COD level of a particular device. This
allows pre-characterization of the devices intended for fusing to eliminate failures during single-pulse operation in the
field. We also tested InP-based devices and demonstrated that the maximum power is not limited by COD. Currently,
devices with >10W output power are available from both GaAs- and InP-based devices, which dramatically expands the
potential use of laser diodes in ignition systems.
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