File talk:Laser diode close-up.jpg

What do the colours represent?
there is no way the different colors denote p and n regions, which in any case are distributed perpendicular to the surface of the chip. (Unsigned) You are incorrect. They do represent the p and n layers. What makes a layer p or n is the chemical doping. Different dopants will result in different aborption spectra and hence differnt colours observed.

You are, however, correct about the fact that the layers are layered on top of each other and are therefore distributed perpendicular to the surface of the chip. What you fail to realise, however, is that the layers deposited do not occupy the same area - you have made an assumption that they would, and hence expected not to be able to see the underneath layers.

In summary, yellow is on top of green which is on top of purple. H0dges (talk) 12:54, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

Are you sure this is a laser diode, rather than the photodiode?
Here's a picture of a red laser diode I have, taken from one of several cheap laser modules I have:

http://i51.tinypic.com/wheik7.jpg Here you can see something that looks to me a lot like what your picture shows, and I'm fairly certain is a photodiode used for feedback.

http://i56.tinypic.com/2mi3hig.jpg Here's the diode in operation, with the laser diode clearly visible as the sandwich in the front. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.188.150.151 (talk) 09:10, 28 September 2010 (UTC)