SEMICONDUCTOR LASER

A semiconductor laser including an active zone and a waveguide, wherein the active zone includes an active layer configured to generate electromagnetic radiation during operation of the semiconductor laser, the waveguide is configured to guide the electromagnetic radiation generated during operation of the semiconductor laser within the semiconductor laser, the waveguide includes a subregion formed from a compound semiconductor material, wherein a proportion of a material of the compound semiconductor material gradually increases in the entire subregion along the vertical direction toward the active zone so that a refractive index of the subregion gradually decreases toward the active zone, and the proportion is an aluminum proportion or a phosphorus proportion.