Patent ID: 7646797

Claim:
A semiconductor laser comprising: a first cladding layer; the first cladding layer comprising a first plurality of current blocking areas having a different level of conductivity than the remainder of the first cladding layer; a second cladding layer; the second cladding layer comprising a second plurality of current blocking areas having a different level of conductivity than the remainder of the second cladding layer; and an active layer formed of a semiconductor material located between the first and second cladding layers and between the first and second pluralities of current blocking areas; first and second reflective surfaces adjacent the active layer configured to form an optical cavity, wherein the semiconductor laser is adapted to be connected to a power source for supplying a current flowing perpendicular to optical cavity axis to produce a standing optical wave within the optical cavity having nodal and anti-nodal regions; the first and second plurality of current blocking areas adapted to form channels for the current so as to provide unimpeded current to the anti-nodal regions and to substantially diminish current flow to the nodal regions of a standing wave.