Photoluminescence imaging was used to study photo-degradation in quantum wells. The observed degraded microstructure evolved in a similar manner to features which were observed during light-emitting diode and laser operation. The degradation was shown to originate from preexisting defects, and to form dark-line defects along the <100> directions. Mobile defects were observed which were the precursors of <100> dark-line defects.

G.M.Haugen, S.Guha, H.Cheng, J.M.DePuydt, M.A.Haase, G.E.Höfler, J.Qiu, B.J.Wu: Applied Physics Letters, 1995, 66[3], 358-60