GRINSCH GaAs/AIGaAs laser structures grown by OMVPE using a novel aluminium source, trimethylamine alane, have been successfully fabricated. Broad-area made lasers made from the material have a threshold current density of 200 A cm-2. A V-grooved laser with a monolithically integrated intracavity loss modulator was used to vary the threshold current from Ith = 15 mA at an absorber voltage of Vs = 2·5 V to Ith = 210mA for Vs = -2·5 V. © 1990, The Institution of Electrical Engineers. All rights reserved.