Improvements in AlGaAs laser diodes grown by molecular beam epitaxy using a compositionally graded buffer layer

Abstract
The effect of a compositionally graded buffer layer (CGBL) in AlGaAs laser diodes grown by molecular beam epitaxy is presented. The threshold current and the differential quantum efficiency are improved by a factor of ∼2. The lifetime is markedly improved by using a CGBL and it is comparable to that of lasers grown by liquid phase epitaxy.