Asymmetric broad waveguide diode lasers (/spl lambda/ = 980 nm) of large equivalent transverse spot size and low temperature sensitivity

980-nm InGaAs-InGaAsP diode lasers of asymmetric broad-waveguide (BW) transverse structure are demonstrated. Single-transverse-mode devices have equivalent (transverse) spot sizes of 0.8 μm (i.e., significantly larger than for symmetric BW structures), which are obtained at no price in device-parameter temperature sensitivity. Built-in discrimination against the first-order transverse mode allows fundamental-transverse-mode operation in relatively narrow beams (/spl theta//sub /spl perp// = 34/spl deg/). For 2-mm-long 100-μm-wide-stripe uncoated devices with double-quantum-well active regions, the threshold-current density is as low as 190 A/cm², while the characteristic temperatures for the threshold-current density T₀, and the external differential quantum efficiency T₁ are high: 183 K and 650 K, respectively.