Long wavelength GaInNAsSb-SQW lasers and GaInAsSb-SQW lasers that include a
small amount of Sb were successfully grown by gas-source molecular beam ep
itaxy (GSMBE). We confirmed that Sb reacts in a highly strained GaInAs-GaAs
system and GaInNAs-GaAs system like a surfactant, which increases the crit
ical thickness at which the growth mode changes from two-dimensional (2-D)
growth to three-dimentional (3-D) growth. The lasers were processed into ri
dge lasers. The GaInNAsSb lasers oscillated under continuous-wave (CW) oper
ation at 1.258 mum at room temperature. The low CW threshold current of 12.
4 mA and high characteristic temperature (T-0) of 157 K were obtained for G
aInNAsSb lasers, which is the best result for GaInNAs-based narrow stripe l
asers. Further, the GaInNAsSb laser oscillated under CW conditions over 100
degreesC. On the other hand, GaInAsSb lasers oscillated under CW operation
at 1.20 mum at room temperature. The low CW threshold current of 6.3 mA an
d high characteristic temperature (T-0) of 256 K were obtained for GaInAsSb
lasers, which is also the best result for 1.2-mum-range highly strained Ga
InAs-based narrow stripe lasers. We can say that GaInNAsSb lasers are very
promising material for a realizing pertier-free access network. Further, th
e differential gain of GaInNAs-based SQW lasers was estimated for the first
time. GaInNAsSb-SQW lasers have the extremely large differential gain of 1
.06 x 10(-15) cm(2) in spite of the single-QW lasers; therefore, GaInNAsSb
lasers are also suitable for high-speed lasers in the long wavelength regio
n.