Patent ID: 7813399

Claim:
An edge emitting semiconductor laser comprising: an active layer that generates laser radiation and is embedded into a first waveguide layer, wherein the first waveguide layer is arranged between a first cladding layer and a second cladding layer and adjoins side facets of the semiconductor laser in a lateral direction; a second waveguide layer, into which no active layer is embedded, adjoining the second cladding layer, wherein the second waveguide layer is optically coupled to the first waveguide layer at least in partial regions; and a third cladding layer arranged at a side of the second waveguide layer that is remote from the first waveguide layer; wherein the partial regions of the first waveguide layer or of the second waveguide layer in which the first waveguide layer and the second waveguide layer are optically coupled have a different effective refractive index than at least one partial region of the first waveguide layer or second waveguide layer in which no optical coupling is present.