Patent ID: 8039830

Claim:
A semiconductor light emitting device comprising: a first layer made of at least one of n-type GaN and n-type AlGaN; a second layer made of Mg-containing p-type AlGaN; and a light emitting section provided between the first layer and the second layer, the light emitting section including a plurality of barrier layers made of Si-containing Al x Ga 1-x-y In y N (0≦x, 0≦y, x+y≦1), and a well layer provided between each pair of the plurality of barrier layers and made of GaInN or AlGaInN, the plurality of barrier layers having a nearest barrier layer and a far barrier layer, the nearest barrier layer being nearest to the second layer among the plurality of barrier layers, wherein only the nearest barrier layer includes a first portion made of Si-containing Al x Ga 1-x-y In y N (0≦x, 0≦y, x+y≦1), and a second portion provided between the first portion and the second layer and made of Al x Ga 1-x-y In y N (0≦x, 0≦y, x+y≦1), a Si concentration in the second portion being lower than a Si concentration in the first portion and lower than a Si concentration in the far barrier layer.