A semiconductor layer stack, a component made therefrom, a component module, and a production method is provided. The semiconductor layer stack has at least two layers (A, B), which, as individual layers, each have an energy position of the Fermi level in the semiconductor band gap,

[00001]$E_F-E_V<\frac{E_G}{2}$

applying to the layer (A) and

[00002]$E_L-E_F<\frac{E_G}{2}$

applying to the layer (B), with E.sub.F the energy position of the Fermi level, E.sub.V the energy position of the valence band, E.sub.L the energy position of a conduction band and E.sub.L−E.sub.V the energy difference of the semiconductor band gap E.sub.G, the thickness of the layers (A, B) being selected in such a way that a continuous space charge zone region over the layers (A, B) results.

A p-type semiconductor layer includes a plurality of unit semiconductor layers, and each of the plurality of unit semiconductor layers includes a p-type nitride semiconductor whose main surface is a polar surface or a semi-polar surface. The nitride semiconductor constituting the unit semiconductor layer includes nitrogen and two or more elements, and each of the plurality of unit semiconductor layers has a composition changing in a stacking direction such that, for example, a lattice constant in a c-axis direction increases in a c-axis positive direction.

A method for manufacturing a GaN-based surface-emitting laser by an MOVPE includes: (a) growing a first cladding layer with a {0001} growth plane; (b) growing a guide layer on the first cladding layer; (c) forming holes which are two-dimensionally periodically arranged within the guide layer; (d) etching the guide layer by ICP-RIE using a chlorine-based gas and an argon; (e) supplying a gas containing a nitrogen to cause mass-transport, and then supplying the group-III gas for growth, whereby a first embedding layer closing openings of the holes is formed to form a photonic crystal layer; and (f) growing an active layer and a second cladding layer on the first embedding layer, The step (d) includes a step of referring to already-obtained data on a relationship of an attraction voltage and a ratio of gases in the ICP-RIE with a diameter distribution of air holes embedded, and applying the attraction voltage and the ratio to the ICP-RIE.

In an example, the present invention provides a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode device. The device has a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate material comprising a surface region, which is configured on either a ({10-10}) crystal orientation or a {10-10} crystal orientation configured with an offcut at an angle toward or away from the [0001] direction. The device also has a GaN region formed overlying the surface region, an active region formed overlying the surface region, and a gettering region comprising a magnesium species overlying the surface region. The device has a p-type cladding region comprising an (InAl)GaN material doped with a plurality of magnesium species formed overlying the active region.

To provide a semiconductor optical device with device resistance reduced for optical communication. The semiconductor optical device includes an active layer (306) for emitting light through recombination of an electron and a hole; a diffraction grating (309) having a pitch defined in accordance with an output wavelength of the light emitted; a first semiconductor layer (311) including at least Al, made of In and group-V compound, and formed on the diffraction grating; and a second semiconductor layer (307) including Mg, made of In and group-V compound, and formed on the first semiconductor layer (311).

A group III-nitride semiconductor device comprises a light emitting semiconductor structure comprising a p-type layer and an n-type layer operable as a light emitting diode or laser. On top of the p-type layer there is arranged an n+ or n++-type layer of a group III-nitride, which is transparent to the light emitted from the underlying semiconductor structure and of sufficiently high electrical conductivity to provide lateral spreading of injection current for the light-emitting semiconductor structure.

A modulation doped semiconductor laser includes a multiple quantum well composed of a plurality of layers including a plurality of first layers and a plurality of second layers stacked alternately and including an acceptor and a donor; a p-type semiconductor layer in contact with an uppermost layer of the plurality of layers; and an n-type semiconductor layer in contact with a lowermost layer of the plurality of layers, the plurality of first layers including the acceptor so that a p-type carrier concentration is 10% or more and 150% or less of the p-type semiconductor layer, the plurality of second layers containing the acceptor so that the p-type carrier concentration is 10% or more and 150% or less of the p-type semiconductor layer, the plurality of second layers containing the donor, and an effective carrier concentration corresponding to a difference between the p-type carrier concentration and an n-type carrier concentration is 10% or less of the p-type carrier concentration of the plurality of second layers.

Provided is a nitride semiconductor element capable of stably withstand being driven at high current density without becoming insulated. The nitride semiconductor element includes an active layer and an AlGaN layer formed above the active layer and formed of AlGaN, the AlGaN containing Mg and having an Al composition ratio decreasing in a direction away from the active layer, and the Al composition ratio being larger than 0.2, in which the AlGaN layer includes a first AlGaN region in which a compositional gradient a1 of the Al composition ratio is larger than 0 Al %/nm and smaller than 0.22 Al %/nm, and a concentration b1 of the Mg in the AlGaN layer is larger than 0 cm.sup.−3 and smaller than 7.0×10.sup.19×a1-2.0×10.sup.18 cm.sup.−3.

Epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO) III-nitride layers are grown on or above an opening area of a growth restrict mask deposited on a substrate, wherein the growth of the ELO III-nitride layers and/or a subsequent regrowth layer form one or more voids. III-nitride device layers are grown on or above the ELO III-nitride layers and/or regrowth layer. Stress is applied to a breaking point at the substrate, with the voids assisting the application of stress, so that a bar of devices comprised of the III-nitride device layers, the ELO III-nitride layers and the regrowth layer is removed from the substrate. The voids release stress from the growth restrict mask, which helps prevent cracks. Decomposition of the growth restrict mask is avoided to prevent compensation of p-type layers.

A manufacturing method of a nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting element includes: forming an n-type nitride-based semiconductor layer; forming, on the n-type nitride-based semiconductor layer, a light emission layer including a nitride-based semiconductor; forming, on the light emission layer in an atmosphere containing a hydrogen gas, a p-type nitride-based semiconductor layer while doping the p-type nitride-based semiconductor layer with a p-type dopant at a concentration of at least 2.0×10.sup.18 atom/cm.sup.3; and annealing the p-type nitride-based semiconductor layer at a temperature of at least 800 degrees Celsius in an atmosphere not containing hydrogen. In this manufacturing method, a hydrogen concentration of the p-type nitride-based semiconductor layer after the annealing is at most 5.0×10.sup.18 atom/cm.sup.3 and at most 5% of the concentration of the p-type dopant, and a hydrogen concentration of the light emission layer is at most 2.0×10.sup.17 atom/cm.sup.3.