UV LED operation lifetime and radiation hardness qualification for space flights

Abstract

We report measurements of ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV LED) performance under conditions simulating operation in an orbiting satellite. UV LED light output maintained within less than 3% observational uncertainty, over more than 19,000 hours of operation in a nitrogen atmosphere, and over 8,000 hours operation at a pressure of less than 10-7 torr vacuum. In addition, irradiation with 63 MeV protons to a total fluence of 2×1012 protons/cm2 does not degrade the UV light output. Spectrally, the emissive center-wavelength and spectral shape are unchanged after proton irradiation within the precision of our measurement. These results qualify the UV LED operation lifetime and radiation hardness for space flights