Patent ID: 6618412
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A semiconductor laser including:a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type and having a top surface; a first semiconductor layer disposed on the top surface of said semiconductor substrate; an active layer disposed on said first semiconductor layer, wherein said first semiconductor layer has a refractive index that increases with distance, along a thickness direction of said active layer, from said semiconductor substrate to said active layer; and a second semiconductor layer disposed on said active layer and having a ridge with a top surface at a thickest part of said second semiconductor layer, the second semiconductor layer having a refractive index that decreases in the thickness direction with distance from said active layer to said top surface of said ridge, wherein the refractive index distribution from said top surface of said ridge to said top surface of said semiconductor substrate is asymmetrical with respect to said active layer so that light generated in said semiconductor laser has an intensity distribution between said top surface of said ridge and said top surface of said semiconductor substrate that has a center shifted from said active layer toward said semiconductor substrate, along the thickness direction.