The paper reports fabrication of strained-layer InGaAs/GaAs separate-confin
ement -heterostructure single-quantum-well (SCH SQW) lasers operating in th
e wavelength range of 980 nm. Design process of the devices involved simula
tion of their above-threshold operation including all relevant physical phe
nomena. The lasers were characterized at room temperature in the pulsed ope
ration regime at frequency nu = 5 kHz and pulse length tau = 200 ns. Thresh
old current densities of the order J(th) = 280 A/cm(2) and differential eff
iciency eta = 0.40 W/A were obtained for devices with cavities of 700 mum i
n length and broad contacts of 100 mum in width.