Patent ID: 8530257

Claim:
A method for increasing a conduction band offset of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser, the method comprising: arranging an active region between a first set of DBR layers and a second set of DBR layers, the active region including a plurality of quantum wells including a first semiconductor material, the plurality of quantum wells separated by barrier layers including a second semiconductor material, wherein the plurality of quantum wells are associated with a direct conduction band having a conduction band offset relative to an indirect conduction band associated with the barrier layers; and including a concentration of nitrogen in each quantum well, wherein the concentration of nitrogen increases at least one of the conduction band offset and a separation of the indirect conduction band from the direct conduction band and the concentration of nitrogen is such that a depth associated with each quantum well in a valence band of the active region is greater than a depth associated with each quantum well in a conduction band of the active region.