Method of fabricating a semiconductor laser

摘要

A method of fabricating a semiconductor laser includes successively forming on a semiconductor substrate by crystal growth an active waveguide comprised of a compound semiconductor comprising a Group V element phosphorus, a thin-film layer comprised of a first-conductivity type compound semiconductor comprising a Group V element arsenic and a current blocking layer comprised of a second-conductivity type compound semiconductor comprising a Group V element arsenic. A mask is formed for selectively etching the current blocking layer in the form of a stripe. A buffer-etching step is formed on both the current blocking layer and the mask to expose a surface of the current blocking layer and the thin-film layer, the surface including a Group V element arsenic. An outer cladding layer comprising a first-conductivity type compound semiconductor having a Group V element arsenic is formed on the current blocking layer and the thin-film layer in an atmosphere having a Group V element arsenic. The method has characteristic features including carrying out the crystal growth only twice, minimizing the movement of impurities in crystals, regrowing the interface with a very little defect and forming a structure wherein the outer cladding layer has a smaller width at its portion near to the active waveguide.