An integrated buried heterojunction laser optically coupled to a ridge waveguide
electro-absorption (EA) optical modulator having a raised ridge structure is manufactured
on a single semiconductor substrate on which a plurality of semiconductor layers
are grown, including at least one active layer through which optical radiation
is coupled from the laser to the waveguide. Semiconductor layers above the active
layer form a laser current conduction region and semiconductor layers adjacent
the active layer form a laser current confinement region. The ridge structure is
formed from one or more layers also used to form the laser current conduction region.
The layers used to form the laser current confinement region do not extend adjacent
the ridge structure.