A semiconductor laser having a double heterostructure configuration is provided with a light waveguide layer extending between a pair of mirrors. A thin active layer is disposed adjacent to the waveguide layer, and is formed in the shape of a stripe having a width of approximately 5 .mu.m. The stripe is shorter in axial length than the waveguide, such that the ends of the stripe are spaced from the mirrors by a distance of 30 to 60 .mu.m.