A method for producing a semiconductor chip (100) is provided, in which, during a growth process for growing a first semiconductor layer (1), an inhomogeneous lateral temperature distribution is created along at least one direction of extent of the growing first semiconductor layer (1), such that a lateral variation of a material composition of the first semiconductor layer (1) is produced. A semiconductor chip (100) is additionally provided.

In an embodiment, the gain-guided semiconductor laser includes a semiconductor layer sequence and electrical contact pads. The semiconductor layer sequence includes an active zone for radiation generation, a waveguide layer, and a cladding layer. The semiconductor layer sequence further includes a current diaphragm layer which is electrically conductive along a resonator axis (R) in a central region and electrically insulating in adjoining edge regions. Transverse to the resonator axis (R), the central region includes a width of at least 10 ?m and the edge regions includes at least a minimum width. The minimum width is 3 ?m or more. Seen in plan view, the semiconductor layer sequence as well as at least one of the contact pads on the semiconductor layer sequence are continuous components extending in the central region as well as on both sides at least up to the minimum width in the direction transverse to the resonator axis (R) adjoining the central region and beyond the central region.

A semiconductor optical element of the present disclosure includes: a ridge structure provided on a first-conductivity-type semiconductor substrate and including a first-conductivity-type cladding layer and an active layer; a buried structure provided on both side surfaces of the ridge structure; a second-conductivity-type cladding layer and a second-conductivity-type contact layer provided on a surface of the buried structure; a second-conductivity-type ridge upper cladding layer provided above the ridge structure; a recess having a bottom surface formed of an upper surface of the second-conductivity-type ridge upper cladding layer and side surfaces formed of the second-conductivity-type cladding layer and the second-conductivity-type contact layer; a mesa structure having both side surfaces formed by a mesa extending from the second-conductivity-type contact layer to the first-conductivity-type semiconductor substrate.

A VCSEG-DFB laser, fully compatible with MGVI design and manufacturing methodologies, for single growth monolithic integration in multi-functional PICs is presented. It comprises a laser PIN structure, in mesa form, etched from upper emitter layer top surface through the active, presumably MQW, gain region, down to the top surface of the lower emitter. Lower electrical contacts sit adjacent the mesa disposed on the lower emitter layer with upper strip contacts disposed atop the upper emitter layer on the mesa top. An SEG is defined/etched from mesa top surface, between the upper strip contacts, through upper emitter layer down to or into the SCH layers. Vertical confinement is provided by the SCH structure and the lateral profile in the bottom portion of the mesa provides lateral confinement. The guided mode interacts with the SEG by the vertical tail penetrating the SEG and evanescent field coupling to the SEG.

A device comprises a substrate, a sacrificial material layer over the substrate, a first solid-state material layer over the sacrificial layer, a dielectric layer over solid-state material layer, and a second solid-state material layer over the dielectric layer. The sacrificial material layer may have an airgap, the solid-state material layer may comprise a structure over the airgap and may be separated from a bulk portion of the first material layer by trenches, where the trenches extend to the airgap.

A device comprises a substrate, a sacrificial material layer over the substrate, a first solid-state material layer over the sacrificial layer, a dielectric layer over solid-state material layer, and a second solid-state material layer over the dielectric layer. The sacrificial material layer may have an airgap, the solid-state material layer may comprise a structure over the airgap and may be separated from a bulk portion of the first material layer by trenches, where the trenches extend to the airgap.

A semiconductor device includes a first pair of nitride semiconductor regions, and a current confinement region which includes a first portion, a second portion disposed on a side of the first portion, and a third portion disposed on another side of the first portion. A width of the second portion is larger than a width of the first portion, the width of the second portion is larger than a width between the first pair of nitride semiconductor regions, and both ends of the second portion are covered by the first pair of nitride semiconductor regions, respectively.

An optical semiconductor device includes a substrate, a semiconductor multilayer which is formed on the substrate, and includes an optical functional layer, an insulating film formed on the semiconductor multilayer, and an electrode formed on a part of the insulating film. The insulating film covers the semiconductor multilayer except for a region in which the semiconductor multilayer and the electrode are electrically connected to each other. At least a part of a region of the insulating film that is overlapped with the electrode is thinner than a region of the insulating film that is not overlapped with the electrode.

An optical semiconductor device includes a substrate, a semiconductor multilayer which is formed on the substrate, and includes an optical functional layer, an insulating film formed on the semiconductor multilayer, and an electrode formed on a part of the insulating film. The insulating film covers the semiconductor multilayer except for a region in which the semiconductor multilayer and the electrode are electrically connected to each other. At least a part of a region of the insulating film that is overlapped with the electrode is thinner than a region of the insulating film that is not overlapped with the electrode.

A light-emitting element includes a mesa structure in which a first compound semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, an active layer, and a second compound semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type are disposed in that order, wherein at least one of the first compound semiconductor layer and the second compound semiconductor layer has a current constriction region surrounded by an insulation region extending inward from a sidewall portion of the mesa structure; a wall structure disposed so as to surround the mesa structure; at least one bridge structure connecting the mesa structure and the wall structure, the wall structure and the bridge structure each having the same layer structure as the portion of the mesa structure in which the insulation region is provided; a first electrode; and a second electrode disposed on a top face of the wall structure.