The processing of semi-conductor lasers is becoming increasingly important. Techniques for producing the fine structures needed to couple radiation into and out of the laser are lacking as well as techniques for controlling the frequency and stabilizing it. Moving the frequency to shorter wavelengths is also a problem which needs addressing particularly as new applications of lightwave technology come along. One technique which has been applied to address some of these problems is the photoelectrochemical etching of semiconductors. This has been successfully used to fabricate diffraction gratings for optoelectronic devices. The effort proposed in the present proposal deals with the limits which such processes might encounter. It also addresses the issue of accurately tailoring semiconductor composition so as to provide precisely designed structures. These will become crucial as lightwave technological advances continue to occur. This effort is to be jointly supported by the lightwave technology (EET) program and the interfacial, transport, and thermodynamic processes program in CBTE.
