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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 January 2011
A thermomechanical model to explain the formation of dark defects in AlGaAs high power laser bars is presented. The local heating at facet defects due to nonradiative recombination and self-absorption of photons induces thermal stresses capable of producing a local plastic deformation and subsequent degradation of the device. The output power density thresholds calculated are in agreement with the data reported in the literature for these lasers.