Patent ID: 7006545

Claim:
A high optical output power semiconductor laser comprising: a multi-quantum well active layer comprising a plurality of well layers surrounded by adjacent barrier layers, at least one of said well layers and at least one adjacent barrier layer being doped with an n-type dopant in a concentration of about 1×10 17 to about 3×10 18 cm −3 , upper and lower optical confinement layers adjacent to said active layer, each of said optical confinement layers comprising a plurality of sublayers, such that said sublayers have a band gap energy which increases in step wise fashion from said active layer, said optical confinement layers being symmetrically disposed about said active layer and having a thickness in the range of about 20 nm to about 50 nm, upper and lower cladding layers formed adjacent to said upper and lower optical confinement layers, respectively, said upper and lower cladding layers having a band gap energy greater than the band gap energy of said adjacent optical confinement layers; wherein said semiconductor laser has a cavity length of at least about 800 μm, and said cavity has an antireflective coating having a reflectivity of less than about 5% on an output facet thereof, and a reflective coating having a reflectivity of greater than about 90% on a rear facet thereof.