Abstract: A semiconductor laser device includes: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a layered structure including at least a first cladding layer of the first conductivity type, an active layer, and a second cladding layer of a second conductivity type. The layered structure is provided on the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor laser device also includes: a current blocking structure, having a striped concave portion therein, formed on the layered structure; and a third cladding layer of the second conductivity type provided so as to cover the striped concave portion and the current blocking structure. The current blocking structure includes at least a saturable absorbing layer having a forbidden band width which is substantially equal to a forbidden band width of the active layer.

Abstract: The semiconductor laser device of the invention includes: an n-type semiconductor and a semiconductor multi-layer structure formed on the n-type semiconductor. The semiconductor multi-layer structure includes: an active layer; an n-type first cladding layer and a p-type second cladding layer which are disposed so as to sandwich the active layer therebetween; an n-type current/light confinement layer having a stripe-shaped groove portion for injecting a current into a selected region of the active layer; and a p-type third cladding layer formed so as to bury the stripe-shaped groove portion of the n-type current/light confinement layer. In the semiconductor laser device, the current/light confinement layer contains Si as a dopant and the n-type first cladding layer contains substantially no Si as a dopant.

Abstract: An optical information reproduction apparatus includes a semiconductor laser device as a light source which provides oscillation as periodic pulse waves upon application of a DC current. The semiconductor laser device is disposed so that an optical distance L from a light-emitting point of the semiconductor laser device to a recording surface of an optical recording medium satisfies the following relationship: TP<(4L/C) and T>TP+(2L/C), where T is a period of pulse waves which are output from the semiconductor laser device in absence of a returning light from the optical recording medium; TP is a pulse width of the respective pulse waves which is defined as a width of a portion of the respective pulse waves, the portion having intensities which correspond to 10% or more of the peak intensity of the respective pulse waves; and C is a speed of light through air.

Abstract: A method for growing a compound semiconductor layer of Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As (0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1) on a compound semiconductor substrate uses a molecular beam epitaxial apparatus, the method including the steps of providing the substrate having a GaAs layer on an upper surface thereof, thermally etching the GaAs layer by heating the substrate at a temperature and irradiating the GaAs layer with a gallium molecular beam and an arsenic molecular beam to expose the upper surface of the substrate, and growing the Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As (0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1) layer on the upper surface of the substrate.

Abstract: On a GaAs substrate (Al.sub.Y Ga.sub.1-Y).sub.0.5 In.sub.0.5 P crystal layers (0.ltoreq.Y.ltoreq.1) is formed to be lattice-matched with the substrate. By radiating As molecular beams on the surface of the crystal layers while heating the layered substrate to a temperature at which In in the crystal layers evaporates, the portion near the surface of the crystal layers is changed into an Al.sub.Y Ga.sub.1-Y As crystal layer (0.ltoreq.Y.ltoreq.1) of a thickness of several molecules, on which layer an Al.sub.X Ga.sub.1-X As crystal layer (0.ltoreq.X.ltoreq.1) is formed. Since the surface of the Al.sub.Y Ga.sub.1-Y As crystal layer has been purl fled, the formed Al.sub.X Ga.sub.1-X As crystal layer has a high crystallinity, allowing production of a light emitting diode, a semiconductor laser device and the like with high efficiency.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device which can effectively confine electrons and positive holes is disclosed. The semiconductor laser device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a current blocking layer of a second conductivity type, a first semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type made of a III-V group compound semiconductor, an active layer made of a III-V group compound semiconductor, and a second semiconductor layer. The semiconductor substrate has a ridge-type mesa having (n11)A planes. The current blocking layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate other than the top face of the mesa. The first semiconductor layer is formed on the entire surface of the current blocking layer and on the top face of the mesa. The active layer is formed on the first semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer is formed on the active layer.

Abstract: On a GaAs substrate (Al.sub.Y Ga.sub.1-Y).sub.0.5 In.sub.0.5 P crystal layers (0.ltoreq.Y.ltoreq.1) is formed to be lattice-matched with the substrate. By radiating As molecular beams on the surface of the crystal layers while heating the layered substrate to a temperature at which In in the crystal layers evaporates, the portion near the surface of the crystal layers is changed into an Al.sub.Y Ga.sub.1-Y As crystal layer (0.ltoreq.Y.ltoreq.1) of a thickness of several molecules, on which layer an Al.sub.X Ga.sub.1-X As crystal layer (0.ltoreq.X.ltoreq.1) is formed. Since the surface of the Al.sub.Y Ga.sub.1-Y As crystal layer has been purified, the formed Al.sub.X Ga.sub.1-X As crystal layer has a high crystallinity, allowing production of a light emitting diode, a semiconductor laser device and the like with high efficiency.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device is provided which includes a semiconductor substrate and a multi-layered structure disposed on the substrate, the multi-layered structure containing an Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As (0<x<1) first cladding layer formed on the substrate, an Al.sub.y Ga.sub.1-y As (0<y<1, x>y) active layer for laser oscillation formed on the first cladding layer, an Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As (0<x<1) second cladding layer formed on the active layer, and an Al.sub.z Ga.sub.1-z As (0<z<1) current blocking layer formed above the second cladding layer, the current blocking layer having a striped groove as a current injection path. The method includes the steps of: forming a multi-layered structure on a semiconductor substrate, the multi-layered structure containing in order, an Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As (0<x<1) first cladding layer, an Al.sub.y Ga.sub.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device and a method for the production of the semiconductor laser device are provided, which semiconductor laser device includes a striped channel formed in a semiconductor substrate through a current blocking layer on the substrate and at least two dummy grooves formed in the current blocking layer on each side of the striped channel. Also provided are a semiconductor wafer prepared for the purpose of producing optical devices with an optical waveguide, and a method for the production of the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer includes a semiconductor substrate, the surface of which has an orientation inclined from the [100] direction to one of the [011] and [011] directions of an angle .theta. satisfying the relationship 0.1.degree.<.vertline..theta..vertline.<4.degree.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising a (111)B single-crystalline semiconductor substrate which is misoriented toward (110), and epitaxial layers grown on the substrate by molecular beam epitaxy, whereby the crystallinity and luminescence efficiency of epitaxial layers are significantly improved.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device is disclosed which comprises a semiconductor substrate and a multi-layered crystal structure disposed on the substrate, the multi-layered crystal structure containing a first cladding layer, a quantum-well active layer for laser oscillation, and a second cladding layer with a striped ridge portion for current injection, wherein the difference in the effective refractive index between the region underneath the striped ridge portion and the adjacent regions thereto is greater in the vicinity of at least one of the facets than inside of the facets.

Abstract: An optical semiconductor device is disclosed that comprises a quantum-well structure as an active region and exhibits a nonlinear optical effect with regard to light of energy near the band gap between the allowed band edges in the active region. The quantum-well structure of this device is composed of alternate layers consisting of at least one first semiconductor layer with a thickness smaller than the de Broglie wavelength of carriers and at least two second semiconductor layers with a band gap greater than that of the first semiconductor layer, the alternate layers being formed along a crystal orientation in the zinc-blende structure. The second semiconductor layers mentioned above are of an indirect transition type.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device is disclosed which comprises a semiconductor substrate, a striped mesa disposed on the substrate and having an active layer for laser oscillation, a current injection layer disposed on the striped mesa and having a width smaller than that of the striped mesa, and a burying layer disposed on both sides of the current injection layer so as to come into contact with the side walls of the current injection layer, the burying layer being capable of absorbing laser light produce in the active layer and of preventing current from flowing through the outside of the striped mesa.

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus comprises a step-shaped substrate and a multiple-layered crystal structure formed on the substrate, said multiple-layered crystal structure is of a superlatticed layer which is composed of alternate layers consisting of plural thin layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device comprising a substrate of a first conductivity type having a mesa; a first semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type which is formed on the upper surface of the substrate other than the mesa to form a flat plane including the top face of the mesa; a laser oscillation region which is formed on the flat plane and includes an active area for laser oscillation; and a multi-layer structure burying the laser oscillation region, the multi-layer structure comprising a high resistance layer formed on the first semiconductor layer and burying both sides of the laser oscillation region, and a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type formed on the high resistance layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device containing a laser oscillation-operating area which comprises a Ga.sub.1-x Al.sub.x As (0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1) quantum well active layer, Ga.sub.1-y Al.sub.y As optical guiding layers interposing the quantum well active layer therebetween, and Ga.sub.1-z Al.sub.z As cladding layers superposed on the optical guiding layers, respectively, wherein the AlAs mole fraction y at the area of each of the optical guiding layers positioned in the vicinity of the interface of the optical guiding layers and the quantum well active layer meets the relationships y-z.gtoreq.0.3 and z-y.ltoreq.0.25.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device of this invention comprises a plurality of semiconductor epitaxial layers grown on a semiconductor substrate, wherein the growth plane of said substrate is substantially the (111) plane.

Abstract: A double-heterostructure multilayered crystal structure in a semiconductor laser device contains an active layer for laser oscillation. A striped etching-protective thin layer is formed on the double-heterostructure multilayered crystal. A striped-mesa multilayered crystal is formed on the striped etching-protective thin layer. A burying layer is formed on the double-heterostructure multilayered crystal outside of both the striped thin layer and striped-mesa multilayered crystal. This provides refractive index distributions within the active layer corresponding to the inside and the outside of the striped-mesa multilayered crystal. Further, it provides a striped structure which functions as a current path composed of the striped-mesa multilayered crystal.

Abstract: A semiconductor device using the quantum effect of one dimension that arises in the direction vertical to the plane of a substrate on which the device structure is disposed, wherein the plane of the substrate is substantially the (111) plane.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser array includes a plurality of stripe-shaped stimulated regions of the index guide type. A plurality of buried layers are disposed between each of the plurality of stripe-shaped stimulated regions. A light absorption layer is formed in each of the plurality of stripe-shaped stimulated regions so that the stimulated region has the optical loss greater than an buried layer, whereby optical coupling is performed with no phase difference.