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From: abh6509@ritcv.UUCP (A. Hudson KA2KHD)
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: Re: CD laser diode life
Message-ID: <8790@ritcv.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 18-Jun-85 21:38:15 EDT
Article-I.D.: ritcv.8790
Posted: Tue Jun 18 21:38:15 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Jun-85 00:01:49 EDT
References: <687@vortex.UUCP>
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Lines: 14

> The laser diodes used in CD players (780 nm) are typically rated
> at "over 5000 hours" use.  Those little devils generate a considerable
> amount of energy from a tiny chip area.  As they age, they require
> more and more current to generate the required amount of light, and
> circuitry in the player automatically keeps the current high enough
> to provide this level.  Eventually, the diode simply won't emit
> enough light without so much current that it burns out.
> 
> This isn't part of some devious plot--it's just the physics of
> the little beasties.
> 
> --Lauren--

can you be more precise about the ion migration, ie half life??