Semiconductor optical device.

摘要

A semiconductor optical device in which an optical waveguide (3, 11) provided on a semiconductor substrate (1) comprises a strained-layer superlattice shows an extremely small transmission loss. A semiconductor optical device with further improved characteristics is obtainable by using a strained-layer superlattice for a portion required to show a great change in refractive index, such as an optical crosspoint switch portion (10), as well as for the optical waveguide (3, 11). The strained-layer superlattice comprises a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer having a narrower band gap and a greater lattice constant as compared with the first semiconductor layer, the two layers grown periodically.