Abstract: An impurity-doped double-heterostructure semiconductor laser adapted for single-longitudinal-mode operation is disclosed which includes a semiconductive substrate and a mesa of double-heterostructure formed over the substrate. The mesa comprises an active layer serving as a light-emitting layer, a waveguiding layer adjacent to the active layer and clad layers interposing the active layer and the waveguiding layer therebetween. A high-resistively layer is formed to bury the lateral surfaces of the mesa. The active layer contains impurities of a rare earth element with a previously selected concentration.