Patent ID: 7843980

Claim:
A semiconductor laser diode comprising: a GaN monocrystalline substrate; and a Group III nitride semiconductor layered structure having a major crystal growth plane defined by a non-polar or semi-polar plane, the Group III nitride semiconductor layered structure being formed on the substrate, wherein the Group III nitride semiconductor layered structure comprises: a p-type cladding layer and an n-type cladding layer; an In-containing p-type guide layer and an In-containing n-type guide layer disposed between the p-type cladding layer and the n-type cladding layer; and an In-containing light emitting layer disposed between the p-type guide layer and the n-type guide layer, wherein the cladding layers are each composed of a Group III nitride semiconductor having an average Al content of less than 7%, wherein a refractive index difference between the guide layers and the cladding layers is not less than 0.04, and wherein the Group III nitride semiconductor layered structure has a major crystal growth plane defined by an m-plane.