Semiconductor laser

• US 5,923,688 A
• Filed: 08/29/1997
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): Song, Yisun
• Application Number:
  US08/921,164
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 372/45, 372/46
• US Class Current: 372/45.01
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/34 comprising quantum well or superlattice structures, e.g. single quantum well [SQW] lasers, multiple quantum well [MQW] lasers or graded index separate confinement heterostructure [GRINSCH] lasers H01S5/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/3409 special GRINSCH structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/34306 emitting light at a wavelength longer than 1000nm, e.g. InP based 1300 and 1500nm lasers

Abstract

A semiconductor laser is herein disclosed which comprises an active layer 21 and SCH layers which sandwich the active layer 21 from upper and lower sides, wherein the SCH layer comprises a multi-layer structure of 2 or more layers 22,24,23,25, and this multi-layer structure is constituted so that the band gaps of the respective layers may increase as the multi-layer structure is apart from the active layer.

Claims

1. A semiconductor laser which comprises an active layer, and a p-type SCH layer and an n-type SCH layer which sandwich the active layer from upper and lower sides, wherein the n-type SCH layer comprises a multi-layer structure of 2 or more layers, and this multi-layer structure is constituted so that the band gaps of the respective layers may increase as the multi-layer structure is apart from the active layer, wherein an energy of a bottom of a conduction band of one of the n-type SCH layers is higher than a quasi Fermi level of electrons at room temperature and lower than a quasi Fermi level of the electrons at a high temperature.

2. The semiconductor laser according to claim 1 wherein the p-type SCH layer comprises a multi-layer structure of 2 or more layers, and this multi-layer structure is constituted so that the band gaps of the respective layers may increase as the multi-layer structure is apart from the active layer.

3. The semiconductor laser according to claim 1 wherein each thickness of the p-type SCH layer and the n-type SCH layer which sandwich the active layer from upper and lower sides is in the range of 10 to 60 nm.

4. The semiconductor laser according to claim 1 wherein the active layer has a multi-quantum well structure or a strained quantum well structure.

5. The semiconductor laser according to claim 1 wherein the one of the n-type SCH layers is second from the active layer and wherein the energy of the bottom of the conduction band is lower than a quasi Fermi level of the electrons at 85°

C.

6. A semiconductor laser, comprising:

(a) an active layer;

(b) an n-type SCH layer disposed on a first side of the active layer; and

(c) a p-type SCH layer disposed on a second side of the active layer opposite to the first side, wherein one of the SCH layers includes at least a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being between the second layer and the active layer and having a bandgap less than a bandgap of the second layer, wherein an energy of a bottom of a conduction band of one of the SCH layers is higher than a quasi Fermi level of electrons at room temperature and lower than a quasi Fermi level of the electrons at a high temperature.

7. A semiconductor laser, according to claim 6, wherein the first and second layers are part of the n-type SCH layer.

8. A semiconductor laser, according to claim 7, wherein the p-type SCH layer includes at least a third layer and a fourth layer, the third layer being between the fourth layer and the active layer and having a bandgap less than a bandgap of the fourth layer.

9. A semiconductor laser, according to claim 6, wherein the first and second layers are part of the p-type SCH layer.

10. A semiconductor laser, according to claim 9, wherein the n-type SCH layer includes at least a third layer and a fourth layer, the third layer being between the fourth layer and the active layer and having a bandgap less than a bandgap of the fourth layer.

11. A semiconductor laser, according to claim 6, wherein the first layer has a thickness between 10 nm and 60 nm.

12. A semiconductor laser, according to claim 11, wherein the first layer has a thickness between 10 nm and 40 nm.

13. A semiconductor laser, according to claim 6, wherein the active layer is one of:

a multi-quantum well structure and a strained quantum well structure.

14. A semiconductor laser, according to claim 6, wherein the second layer has an energy of a bottom of a conduction band that is higher than a quasi Fermi level of electrons at room temperature and lower than a quasi Fermi level of the electrons at 85°

C.

15. A semiconductor laser, comprising:

(a) an active layer;

(b) an n-type SCH layer disposed on a first side of the active layer;

(c) a p-type SCH layer disposed on a second side of the active layer opposite to the first side; and

(d) means for maintaining in the laser a relatively high internal quantum efficiency and a relatively low internal loss as temperature of the laser is increased, wherein an energy of a bottom of a conduction band of one of the SCH layers is higher than a quasi Fermi level of electrons at room temperature and lower than a quasi Fermi level of the electrons at a high temperature.

16. A semiconductor laser, according to claim 15, wherein the active layer is one of:

a multi-quantum well structure and a strained quantum well structure.

17. A semiconductor laser, according to claim 15, wherein the means for maintaining includes first and second layers that are part of at least one of the SCH layers, the first layer being between the active layer and the second layer and having a bandgap that is less than a bandgap of the second layer.

18. A semiconductor laser, according to claim 17, wherein the second layer has an energy of a bottom of a conduction band that is higher than a quasi Fermi level of electrons at room temperature and lower than a quasi Fermi level of the electrons at 85°

C.

19. A semiconductor laser, according to claim 17, wherein the first layer has a thickness between 10 nm and 60 nm.

20. A semiconductor laser, according to claim 19, wherein the first layer has a thickness between 10 nm and 40 nm.