Abstract: A high-quality gallium nitride layer is grown on a surface of a substrate which is exposed through a dielectric mask on the substrate. The high-quality gallium nitride layer has a composition expressed by the chemical formula:Ga.sub.x Al.sub.y In.sub.z N (I)wherein 0<x.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.y<1, 0.ltoreq.z<1, and x+y+z=1. An aluminum nitride thin layer is interposed between neighboring pairs of gallium nitride selectively grown layers and has a composition expressed by the following chemical formula:Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x N (II)wherein 0.7<x.ltoreq.1.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser includes a ridge structure includes a cladding layer having a thermal expansion coefficient. Current blocking structures are disposed at both sides of the ridge structure and include Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As first current blocking layers having an Al composition x larger than 0.7 and contacting the ridge structure. In this structure, even when the Al composition of the first current blocking layers is reduced at both sides of the ridge structure, the wavelength of light absorbed by the first current blocking layers does not exceed the wavelength of laser light produced in the active layer. Therefore, unwanted absorption of the laser light at both sides of the ridge structure is avoided, resulting in a semiconductor laser with improved laser characteristics.

Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device includes an Si substrate having opposed front and rear surfaces; an amorphous or polycrystalline first buffer layer disposed on the front surface of the Si substrate; and GaN series compound semiconductor layers successively disposed on the first buffer layer and including a light emitting region where light is produced by recombination of electrons and holes. In this light emitting device, since the Si substrate is cleavable, it is possible to produce resonator facets by cleaving. In addition, since the Si substrate is electrically conductive, a structure in which a pair of electrodes are respectively located on opposed upper and lower surfaces of the light emitting device is realized. Further, since the Si substrate is inexpensive, the light emitting device is obtained at low cost.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an Si substrate, a stress absorbing layer of GaAs and disposed on the Si substrate, a buffer layer having a composition of Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x-y In.sub.y N (0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1) and disposed on the stress absorbing layer, and a compound semiconductor layer having a composition of Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x-y In.sub.y N (0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1) and disposed on the buffer layer. Therefore, the buffer layer protects the GaAs stress absorbing layer from high temperatures during the formation of the compound semiconductor layer, whereby the stress absorbing layer is prevented from decomposition. As a result, a stress due to lattice mismatch or thermal stress between the Si substrate and the compound semiconductor layer is absorbed in the GaAs stress absorbing layer having a lowest bulk modulus, whereby a compound semiconductor layer with reduced dislocations may be grown on the buffer layer and bending of the Si substrate prevented.