Patent ID: 7420218

Claim:
A semiconductor light emitting device, comprising: a semiconductor multilayer structure composed of a p-semiconductor layer, a quantum well emission layer, and an n-semiconductor layer each made of a nitride semiconductor and laminated in the stated order, light from the emission layer exiting through the n-semiconductor layer; and a p-electrode facing and in electrical connection with the p-semiconductor layer, wherein the p-semiconductor layer has, on a surface facing toward the p-electrode, (i) high-defect of dislocation-density regions in which defects of dislocation are localized and (ii) low-defect of dislocation-density regions, the high and low-defect of dislocation-density regions being at regularly or selectively distributed locations, the p-electrode has, on a surface facing toward the p-semiconductor layer, a plurality of projections or depressions that are distributed substantially uniformly, and the p-electrode is directly in contact, at a top surface thereof, with the low-defect of dislocation-density regions of the p-semiconductor layer.