Optical device with composite passive and tapered active waveguide regions

摘要

A semiconductor optical device, for example a laser, has a composite optical waveguide including a tapered, MQW active waveguide in optical contact with a substantially planar, passive waveguide. The fundamental optical mode supported by the composite waveguide varies along the length of the composite waveguide so that, in a laser, the laser mode is enlarged and is a better match to single mode optical fiber. A method for making such semiconductor optical devices is also disclosed.