The invention discloses improved structures of light-
processing (e.g. light-emitting and light-absorbing / sensing) devices, in particular Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs), such as may find use in
telecommunications applications. The disclosed VSCAL devices and production methods provide for an active region having a
quantum well structure grown on GaAs-containing substrates, thus providing
processing compatibility for light having
wavelength in the range 1.0 to 1.6 μm. The active region structure combines strain-compensating barriers with different band alignments in the
quantum wells to achieve a long emission
wavelength while at the same time decreasing the strain in the structure. The improved functioning of the devices disclosed results from building them with multicomponent
alloy layers having a large number of constituents. The invention discloses as a key constituent in the proposed
alloy layers for the active region a substance, such as
nitrogen (N), suitable for reducing bandgap energy (i.e., increasing light
wavelength) associated with the
layers while at the same time lowering the
lattice constant associated with the structure and hence lowering strain.