A Group III-Nitride quantum well laser including a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR). In some embodiments, the DBR includes Scandium. In some embodiments, the DBR includes Al.sub.1-xSc.sub.xN, which may have 0<x≤0.45.

Photonic devices having a photonic waveguiding layer, and a cladding layer, disposed on the photonic waveguiding layer, and where the cladding section is a material comprising Scandium. The cladding layer may include a material comprising Al.sub.1-xSc.sub.xN material where 0<x≤0.45.

The invention relates to a semiconductor laser diode, which comprises a semiconductor layer sequence grown in a vertical direction and having an active layer that is configured and provided to generate light during operation in at least one active region extending in a longitudinal direction, and which comprises a transparent electrically conductive cover layer on the semiconductor layer sequence, wherein the semiconductor layer sequence terminates in a vertical direction with a top side, and the top side has a contact region arranged in the vertical direction above the active region and at least one cover region directly adjoining the contact region in a lateral direction perpendicular to the vertical and longitudinal directions, the cover layer is applied contiguously to the contact region and the at least one cover region on the top side, the cover layer is applied directly to the top side of the semiconductor layer sequence at least in the at least one cover region, and at least one element defining the at least one active region is present which is covered by the cover layer. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor laser diode.

An optical device includes a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate comprising a surface region configured in a (20-2-1) orientation, a (30-3-1) orientation, or a (30-31) orientation, within +/−10 degrees toward c-plane and/or a-plane from the orientation. Optical devices having quantum well regions overly the surface region are also disclosed.

An optical device includes a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate comprising a surface region configured in a (20-2-1) orientation, a (30-3-1) orientation, or a (30-31) orientation, within +/−10 degrees toward c-plane and/or a-plane from the orientation. Optical devices having quantum well regions overly the surface region are also disclosed.

Photonic devices having a photonic waveguiding layer, and a cladding layer, disposed on the photonic waveguiding layer, and where the cladding section is a material comprising Scandium. The cladding layer may include a material comprising Al.sub.1-xSc.sub.xN material where 0<x≤0.45.

Photonic devices having a quantum well structure that includes a Group III-N material, and a Al.sub.1-xSc.sub.xN cladding layer disposed on the quantum well structure, where 0<x≤0.45, the Al.sub.1-xSc.sub.xN cladding layer having a lower refractive index than the index of refraction of the quantum well structure.

A semiconductor optical device that achieves both of heat dissipation and light confinement and permits efficient current injection or application of an electric field is implemented. The semiconductor optical device includes: a core layer including an active region (1) made of a compound semiconductor; two cladding layers (5, 6) injecting current into the core layer; and a third cladding layer (4) made of a material having a larger thermal conductivity, a smaller refractive index, and a larger band gap than a material for any of the core layer and the two cladding layers.

A semiconductor laser according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a semiconductor stack. The semiconductor stack includes, in the following order, a first cladding layer, an active layer, one or a plurality of low-concentration impurity layers, a contact layer, and a second cladding layer that includes a transparent conductive material. The semiconductor stack further has, in a portion including the contact layer, a ridge extending in a stacked in-plane direction. Each low-concentration impurity layer has an impurity concentration of 5.0×10.sup.17 cm.sup.−3 or less, and a total thickness of the low-concentration impurity layer is 250 nm or more and 1000 nm or less. A distance between the second cladding layer and the low-concentration impurity layer closest to the second cladding layer is 150 nm or less.

A semiconductor optical device that achieves both of heat dissipation and light confinement and permits efficient current injection or application of an electric field is implemented. The semiconductor optical device includes: a core layer including an active region (1) made of a compound semiconductor; two cladding layers (5, 6) injecting current into the core layer; and a third cladding layer (4) made of a material having a larger thermal conductivity, a smaller refractive index, and a larger band gap than a material for any of the core layer and the two cladding layers.