An embodiment semiconductor optical device includes an optical waveguide including a core, and an active layer extending in the waveguide direction of the optical waveguide for a predetermined distance and arranged in a state in which the active layer can be optically coupled to the core. The core and the active layer are arranged in contact with each other. The core is formed of a material with a refractive index of about 1.5 to 2.2, such as SiN, for example. In addition, the core is formed to a thickness at which a higher-order mode appears. The higher-order mode is an E.sub.12 mode, for example.

In some embodiments, a semiconductor structure includes: a first epitaxial oxide semiconductor layer; a metal layer; and a contact layer adjacent to the metal layer, and between the first epitaxial oxide semiconductor layer and the metal layer. The contact layer can include an epitaxial oxide semiconductor material. The contact layer can also include a region comprising a gradient in a composition of the epitaxial oxide semiconductor material adjacent to the metal layer, or a gradient in a strain of the epitaxial oxide semiconductor material over a region adjacent to the metal layer.

There is provided a device to generate an output light. The device comprises a substrate, a quantum well structure (QWS) disposed on the substrate, and a waveguide disposed on the substrate and in contact with the QWS. The QWS has a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The second layer is disposed and quantum-confined between the first layer and the third layer. In addition, the second layer is to emit an input light when electrically biased. The input light has an optical field extending outside the QWS and into the waveguide, to optically couple the waveguide with the QWS. The waveguide is to provide an optical resonance cavity for the input light. Moreover, the waveguide has an optical outlet to transmit at least some of the input light out of the waveguide to generate the output light.

An electrically pumped photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser, the epitaxy structure has a first mesa, the first mesa has multiple air holes and forming a photonic crystal structure, the epitaxy structure further has a second mesa, the second mesa and photonic crystal structure is facing the same direction; a first metal electrode arranged on the insulating layer, and covering the photonic crystal structure; a second metal electrode arranged on the second mesa and protruding out of the groove, making the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode face the same direction; and further make the first metal electrode connect to the first connecting metal and make the second metal electrode connect to the second connecting metal for making the photonic crystal structure become flip chip.

A semiconductor structure can include a substrate comprising a first in-plane lattice constant, a graded layer on the substrate, and a first region of the graded layer comprising a first epitaxial oxide material comprising a second in-plane lattice constant. The graded layer on the substrate can include (Al.sub.x1Ga.sub.1−x1).sub.y1O.sub.z1, wherein x1 is from 0 to 1, wherein y1 is from 1 to 3, wherein z1 is from 2 to 4, and wherein x1 varies in a growth direction such that the graded layer has the first in-plane lattice constant adjacent to the substrate and a second in-plane lattice constant at a surface of the graded layer opposite the substrate. In some cases, a semiconductor structure includes a first region comprising a first epitaxial oxide material; a second region comprising a second epitaxial oxide material; and the graded region located between the first and the second regions.

There is provided a light-emitting device (1) including: a light-emitting element (20); a light-transmissive heat dissipation member (11) having a plate shape; a wavelength conversion member (12) that takes in, from a side of a light scattering layer (12a), light that is emitted from the light-emitting element (20) and passes through the light-transmissive heat dissipation member (11), and converts a wavelength in a fluorescent layer (12b); a lateral heat dissipation member that has a plate shape, includes a high-heat conduction member (13) in contact with a side surface of the wavelength conversion member (12) via a light reflection member (14), and is in contact with an upper surface of the light-transmissive heat dissipation member (11); and a package (21) that houses the light-emitting element (20) and supports a wavelength conversion unit (100) including the light-transmissive heat dissipation member (11), the wavelength conversion member (12), and the lateral heat dissipation member.

An optical semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate including a first main surface and a second main surface; a stacked body that is formed on the first main surface and includes an active layer and a contact layer arranged on a side opposite to the semiconductor substrate with respect to the active layer; a first electrode in contact with the contact layer; and a second electrode formed on the second main surface. The stacked body includes a light transmitting portion formed by not covering at least part of a surface of the contact layer on a side opposite to the semiconductor substrate with the first electrode. The optical semiconductor device is configured such that a waveguide mode is not formed by current application through the first electrode and the second electrode in a state in which the light transmitting portion is not in optical contact with an external member.

The invention relates to a semiconductor laser comprising a semiconductor layer arrangement, having an active zone for radiation generation, as well as comprising a first resonator mirror, a second resonator mirror and a resonator arranged between the first and the second resonator mirror, which ends in a direction parallel to a main surface of the semiconductor layer arrangement. The semiconductor laser also comprises a first wavelength-selective absorption element which is arranged between the semiconductor layer arrangement and the first resonator mirror.

A surface-emitting semiconductor light-emitting device includes a semiconductor substrate; a first semiconductor layer on a front surface of the semiconductor substrate, an active layer on the first semiconductor layer; a photonic crystal layer on the active layer, a second semiconductor layer on the photonic crystal layer, a first electrode on the second semiconductor layer; and a second electrode on a back surface of the semiconductor substrate. The photonic crystal layer includes a plurality of protrusions arranged along an upper surface of the active layer. The second electrode includes a planar contact portion contacting the back surface of the semiconductor substrate, and at least one fine wire contact portion extending into a surface-emitting region in the back surface of the semiconductor substrate. The light radiated from the active layer is externally emitted from the surface-emitting region. The fine wire contact portion is arranged in the surface-emitting region with rotationally asymmetric.

A semiconductor light-emitting module according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements each outputting light of a desired beam projection pattern; and a support substrate holding the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements. Each of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements includes a phase modulation layer configured to form a target beam projection pattern in a target beam projection region. The plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements include first and second semiconductor light-emitting elements that are different in terms of at least any of a beam projection direction, the target beam projection pattern, and a light emission wavelength.