Patent ID: 8822975

Claim:
A semiconductor laser having a stripe structure including an end face window structure, comprising: a nitride type Group III-V compound semiconductor layer over a substrate, the nitride type Group III-V compound semiconductor layer including an active layer that includes a nitride type Group III-V compound semiconductor containing at least In and Ga; and a mask over the substrate, the mask including an insulating film and being disposed at least in a vicinity of a position corresponding to the end face window structure, wherein, the nitride type Group III-V compound semiconductor layer including the active layer is formed over a portion of the substrate not covered by the mask, and the mask is configured according to a desired characteristic that includes a band gap energy of the nitride type Group III-V compound semiconductor layer including the active layer, the band gap energy varying in relationship to a configuration of the mask along a length direction of the stripe structure, the configuration of the mask being such along the length direction of the stripe structure that a content of In varies along the length direction of the stripe structure, with the content of In being lower at end face forming positions of the stripe structure than other portions thereof along the length direction.