Abstract:
A body of single crystalline gallium arsenide or aluminum gallium arsenide containing a relatively low concentration of aluminum is coated by liquid phase epitaxy with a layer of aluminum gallium arsenide containing a relatively high concentration of aluminum. The aluminum gallium arsenide layer has therein a desired conductivity modifier. The coated body is heated to diffuse the conductivity modifier from the layer into the body to form a region of a desired conductivity along the surface of the body. At least a portion of the layer is etched away with an etchant which does not attack the material of the body, such as boiling hydrochloric acid, to expose at least a portion of the surface of the body.
Abstract:
A body of single crystalline semiconductor material having a radiation generating region sandwiched between two other regions. the junctions between the intermediate radiation generating region and each of the outer two regions are heterojunctions which extend to an edge of the body. The intermediate region is of a material having a bandgap energy which is lower than that of the materials of the other two regions but the difference between the bandgap energy of the intermediate region and one of the outer regions is smaller than the bandgap energy between the intermediate region and the other of the outer regions.
Abstract:
A semiconductor injection laser which emits a beam of radiation having improved beam divergence has a body of semiconductor material including a first region of one conductivity type, a second region of the opposite conductivity type and a third region of either conductivity type between the first and second regions and forming a PN junction with one of the first or second regions. The junctions between the third region and each of the first and second regions are heterojunctions which extend in substantially parallel relation to the edges of the body. The third region is of a thickness of between 0.2 and 0.3 microns and has an index of refraction which is no greater than about 0.05 higher than the index of refraction of each of the first and second regions so as to permit some of the light generated in the third region to spread out into each of the first and second regions.