High-quality ZnSe-based heterostructures are grown by uninterrupted molecular beam epitaxy using the concept of strain compensation and alternating-strain multilayers. To verify the advantages of this technique, optically pumped ZnSSe/ZnCdSe laser structures containing short-period superlattices or multiple quantum wells have been grown and studied. A room-temperature injection laser diode with a BeZnSe/ZnSe superlattice waveguide is described. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S1063-7826(98)02810-5].