Abstract: A nitride semiconductor laser includes an electrically conductive support substrate with a primary surface of a gallium nitride based semiconductor, an active layer provided above the primary surface, and a p-type cladding region provided above the primary surface. The primary surface is inclined relative to a reference plane perpendicular to a reference axis extending in a direction of the c-axis of the gallium nitride based semiconductor. The p-type cladding region includes first and second p-type Group III nitride semiconductor layers. The first p-type semiconductor layer comprises an InAlGaN layer including built-in anisotropic strain. The second p-type semiconductor layer comprises semiconductor different from material of the InAlGaN layer. The first nitride semiconductor layer is provided between the second p-type semiconductor layer and the active layer. The second p-type semiconductor layer has a resistivity lower than that of the first p-type semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Provided is a group-III nitride semiconductor laser device with a laser cavity allowing for a low threshold current, on a semipolar surface of a support base in which the c-axis of a hexagonal group-III nitride is tilted toward the m-axis. First and second fractured faces 27, 29 to form the laser cavity intersect with an m-n plane. The group-III nitride semiconductor laser device 11 has a laser waveguide extending in a direction of an intersecting line between the m-n plane and the semipolar surface 17a. For this reason, it is feasible to make use of emission by a band transition enabling the low threshold current. In a laser structure 13, a first surface 13a is opposite to a second surface 13b. The first and second fractured faces 27, 29 extend from an edge 13c of the first surface 13a to an edge 13d of the second surface 13b. The fractured faces are not formed by dry etching and are different from conventionally-employed cleaved facets such as c-planes, m-planes, or a-planes.

Abstract: A nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting element LE1 or LD1 has: a gallium nitride substrate 11 having a principal surface 11a which makes an angle ?, in the range 40° to 50° or in the range more than 90° to 130°, with the reference plane Sc perpendicular to the reference axis Cx extending in the c axis direction; an n-type gallium nitride-based semiconductor layer 13; a second gallium nitride-based semiconductor layer 17; and a light-emitting layer 15 including a plurality of well layers of InGaN and a plurality of barrier layers 23 of a GaN-based semiconductor, wherein the direction of piezoelectric polarization of the plurality of well layers 21 is the direction from the n-type gallium nitride-based semiconductor layer 13 toward the second gallium nitride-based semiconductor layer 17.

Abstract: A group III nitride substrate has a semi-polar primary surface. A first cladding layer has a first conductivity type, and comprises aluminum-containing group III nitride. The first cladding layer is provided on the substrate. An active layer is provided on the first cladding layer. A second cladding layer has a second conductivity type, and comprises aluminum-containing group III nitride. The second cladding layer is provided on the active layer. An optical guiding layer is provided between the first cladding layer and the active layer and/or between the second cladding layer and the active layer. The optical guiding layer comprises a first layer comprising Inx1Ga1-x1N (0?x1<1) and a second layer comprising Inx2Ga1-x2N (x1<x2<1). The second layer is provided between the first layer and the active layer. The total thickness of the first layer and the second layer is greater than 0.1 ?m. The wavelength of laser light is in a range of 480 nm to 550 nm.

Abstract: Provided is a group-III nitride semiconductor laser device with a laser cavity of high lasing yield, on a semipolar surface of a support base in which the c-axis of a hexagonal group-III nitride is tilted toward the m-axis. First and second fractured faces to form the laser cavity intersect with an m-n plane. The group-III nitride semiconductor laser device has a laser waveguide extending in a direction of an intersecting line between the m-n plane and the semipolar surface. In a laser structure, a first surface is opposite to a second surface. The first and second fractured faces extend from an edge of the first surface to an edge of the second surface. The fractured faces are not formed by dry etching and are different from conventionally-employed cleaved facets such as c-planes, m-planes, or a-planes.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a gallium nitride semiconductor which enables activation of a p-type dopant with a heat treatment performed for a relatively short period of time. The fabricating method comprises the step of performing, in a vacuum, a heat treatment of a group III nitride semiconductor region, the group III nitride semiconductor region comprising a gallium nitride semiconductor, the gallium nitride semiconductor including a p-type dopant, the a group III nitride semiconductor region having a group III nitride semiconductor surface inclined with respect to a reference plane perpendicular to a reference axis, and the reference axis extending in a direction of a c-axis of the gallium nitride semiconductor.

Abstract: Provided is a III-nitride semiconductor laser allowing for provision of a low threshold with use of a semipolar plane. A primary surface 13a of a semiconductor substrate 13 is inclined at an angle of inclination AOFF in the range of not less than 50 degrees and not more than 70 degrees toward the a-axis direction of GaN with respect to a reference plane perpendicular to a reference axis Cx along the c-axis direction of GaN. A first cladding layer 15, an active layer 17, and a second cladding layer 19 are provided on the primary surface 13a of the semiconductor substrate 13. The well layers 23a of the active layer 17 comprise InGaN. A polarization degree P in the LED mode of emission from the active layer of the semiconductor laser that reaches lasing is not less than ?1 and not more than 0.1.

Abstract: Provided is a group-III nitride semiconductor laser device with a laser cavity allowing for a low threshold current, on a semipolar surface of a support base in which the c-axis of a hexagonal group-III nitride is tilted toward the m-axis. First and second fractured faces 27, 29 to form the laser cavity intersect with an m-n plane. The group-III nitride semiconductor laser device 11 has a laser waveguide extending in a direction of an intersecting line between the m-n plane and the semipolar surface 17a. In a laser structure 13, a first surface 13a is opposite to a second surface 13b. The first and second fractured faces 27, 29 extend from an edge 13c of the first surface to an edge 13d of the second surface 13b. The fractured faces are not formed by dry etching and are different from conventionally-employed cleaved facets such as c-planes, m-planes, or a-planes.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a III-nitride semiconductor laser device includes: preparing a substrate with a semipolar primary surface, the semipolar primary surface including a hexagonal III-nitride semiconductor; forming a substrate product having a laser structure, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode, the laser structure including a substrate and a semiconductor region, and the semiconductor region being formed on the semipolar primary surface; after forming the substrate product, forming first and second end faces; and forming first and second dielectric multilayer films for an optical cavity of the nitride semiconductor laser device on the first and second end faces, respectively.

Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light emitting device is provided. A core semiconductor region, a first cladding region, and a second cladding region are mounted on a nonpolar primary surface of a support substrate of GaN which is not the polar plane. The core semiconductor region includes an active layer and a carrier block layer. The first cladding region includes an n-type AlGaN cladding layer and an n-type InAlGaN cladding layer. The n-type InAlGaN cladding layer is provided between the n-type AlGaN cladding layer and the active layer. A misfit dislocation density at an interface is larger than that at an interface. The AlGaN cladding layer is lattice-relaxed with respect to the GaN support substrate and the InAlGaN cladding layer is lattice-relaxed with respect to the AlGaN cladding layer.

Abstract: A III-nitride semiconductor laser device is provided with a laser structure and an electrode. The laser structure includes a support base which includes a hexagonal III-nitride semiconductor and a semipolar primary surface, and a semiconductor region provided on the semipolar primary surface. The electrode is provided on the semiconductor region. The semiconductor region includes a first cladding layer of a first conductivity type GaN-based semiconductor, a second cladding layer of a second conductivity type GaN-based semiconductor, and an active layer provided between the first cladding layer and the second cladding layer.

Abstract: A III-nitride semiconductor device has a support base comprised of a III-nitride semiconductor and having a primary surface extending along a first reference plane perpendicular to a reference axis inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a c-axis of the III-nitride semiconductor, and an epitaxial semiconductor region provided on the primary surface of the support base. The epitaxial semiconductor region includes GaN-based semiconductor layers. The reference axis is inclined at a first angle from the c-axis of the III-nitride semiconductor toward a first crystal axis, either the m-axis or a-axis. The reference axis is inclined at a second angle from the c-axis of the III-nitride semiconductor toward a second crystal axis, the other of the m-axis and a-axis. Morphology of an outermost surface of the epitaxial semiconductor region includes a plurality of pits. A pit density of the pits is not more than 5×104 cm?2.

Abstract: Provided is a gallium nitride based semiconductor light-emitting device with a structure capable of enhancing the degree of polarization. A light-emitting diode 11a is provided with a semiconductor region 13, an InGaN layer 15 and an active layer 17. The semiconductor region 13 has a primary surface 13a having semipolar nature, and is made of GaN or AlGaN. The primary surface 13a of the semiconductor region 13 is inclined at an angle ? with respect to a plane Sc perpendicular to a reference axis Cx which extends in a direction of the [0001] axis in the primary surface 13a. The thickness D13 of the semiconductor region 13 is larger than the thickness DInGaN of the InGaN layer 17, and the thickness DInGaN of the InGaN layer 15 is not less than 150 nm. The InGaN layer 15 is provided directly on the primary surface 13a of the semiconductor region 13 and is in contact with the primary surface 13a.

Abstract: Provided is a Group III nitride semiconductor laser diode with a cladding layer capable of providing high optical confinement and carrier confinement. An n-type Al0.08Ga0.92N cladding layer is grown so as to be lattice-relaxed on a (20-21)-plane GaN substrate. A GaN optical guiding layer is grown so as to be lattice-relaxed on the n-type cladding layer. An active layer, a GaN optical guiding layer, an Al0.12Ga0.88N electron blocking layer, and a GaN optical guiding layer are grown so as not to be lattice-relaxed on the optical guiding layer. A p-type Al0.08Ga0.92N cladding layer is grown so as to be lattice-relaxed on the optical guiding layer. A p-type GaN contact layer is grown so as not to be lattice-relaxed on the p-type cladding layer, to produce a semiconductor laser. Dislocation densities at junctions are larger than those at the other junctions.

Abstract: A GaN-based semiconductor light emitting device 11a includes a substrate 13 composed of a GaN-based semiconductor having a primary surface 13a tilting from the c-plane toward the m-axis at a tilt angle ? of more than or equal to 63 degrees and less than 80 degrees, a GaN-based semiconductor epitaxial region 15, an active layer 17, an electron blocking layer 27, and a contact layer 29. The active layer 17 is composed of a GaN-based semiconductor containing indium. The substrate 13 has a dislocation density of 1×107 cm?2 or less. In the GaN-based semiconductor light emitting device 11a provided with the active layer containing indium, a decrease in quantum efficiency under high current injection can be moderated.

Abstract: A gallium nitride-based semiconductor laser device with reduced threshold current. The gallium nitride-based semiconductor laser device is provided with an n-type cladding layer, an n-side light guide layer, an active layer, a p-side light guide layer, and a p-type cladding layer. The n-side light guide layer and the p-side light guide layer both contain indium. Each of indium compositions of the n-side light guide layer and the p-side light guide layer is not less than 2% and not more than 6%. A film thickness of the n-type cladding layer is in the range of not less than 65% and not more than 85% of a total of the film thickness of the n-type cladding layer and a film thickness of the p-type cladding layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical device includes: a group III nitride semiconductor substrate having a primary surface of a first orientation; a first group III nitride semiconductor laminate including a first active layer disposed on a first region of the primary surface; a group III nitride semiconductor thin film having a surface, which has a second orientation different from the first orientation, disposed on a second region, the second region being different from the first region; a junction layer provided between the second region and the group III nitride semiconductor thin film; and a second group III nitride semiconductor laminate including a second active layer and disposed on the surface of the group III nitride semiconductor thin film. The first and second active layers include first and second well layers containing In, respectively, and the emission wavelengths of the first and second well layers are different from each other.

Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light-emitting device includes a support base and a diode structure. The support base has a primary surface of a hexagonal nitride semiconductor. The diode structure is provided on the primary surface of the support base. The diode structure includes a first conductivity type group-III nitride semiconductor layer provided on the primary surface of the support base, a light-emitting layer provided on the first conductivity type group-III nitride semiconductor layer, and a second conductivity type group-III nitride semiconductor layer provided on the light-emitting layer. The light-emitting layer has a multiple quantum well structure including first and second well layers and a barrier layer. The thickness of the barrier layer is 4.5 nm or less. The primary surface of the support base tilts at a tilt angle in the range of 50 to 80 degrees or 130 to 170 degrees from a c-plane of the hexagonal nitride semiconductor.

Abstract: A nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device having enhanced efficiency of carrier injection to a well layer is provided. The nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device comprises a hexagonal gallium nitride-based semiconductor substrate 5, an n-type gallium nitride-based semiconductor region 7 disposed on the principal surface S1 of the substrate 5, a light-emitting layer 11 having a single-quantum-well structure disposed on the n-type gallium nitride-based semiconductor region 7, and a p-type gallium nitride-based semiconductor region 19 disposed on the light-emitting layer 11. The light-emitting layer 11 is disposed between the n-type gallium nitride-based semiconductor region 7 and the p-type gallium nitride-based semiconductor region 19. The light-emitting layer 11 includes a well layer 15 and barrier layers 13 and 17. The well layer 15 comprises InGaN.

Abstract: A primary surface 23a of a supporting base 23 of a light-emitting diode 21a tilts by an off-angle of 10 degrees or more and less than 80 degrees from the c-plane. A semiconductor stack 25a includes an active layer having an emission peak in a wavelength range from 400 nm to 550 nm. The tilt angle “A” between the (0001) plane (the reference plane SR3 shown in FIG. 5) of the GaN supporting base and the (0001) plane of a buffer layer 33a is 0.05 degree or more and 2 degrees or less. The tilt angle “B” between the (0001) plane of the GaN supporting base (the reference plane SR4 shown in FIG. 5) and the (0001) plane of a well layer 37a is 0.05 degree or more and 2 degrees or less. The tilt angles “A” and “B” are formed in respective directions opposite to each other with reference to the c-plane of the GaN supporting base.