InGaAs-GaAs separate confinement, heterostructure single quantum-well (SCH-SQW) lasers (/spl lambda/=0.98 /spl mu/m) with lattice-matched InGaP cladding layers, using a new Ga/sub 2/O/sub 3/ low reflectivity (LR) front-facet coating, are reported. The CW peak power density (17 MW/cm/sup 2/) of 6 /spl mu/m/spl times/750 /spl mu/m ridge-waveguide lasers is limited by thermal rollover, and repeated cycling beyond thermal rollover produced no change in operating characteristics. The high-power temperature distribution along the active stripe has been measured by high-resolution infrared (3-5 /spl mu/m) imaging microscopy. The temperature profile acquired for a very high optical power density P/sub D/=11 MW/cm/sup 3/ was found to be uniform along the inner active laser stripe, and revealed a local temperature increase at the LR front facet /spl Delta/T/sub f/ of only 9 K above the average stripe temperature /spl Delta/T/sub s/=24 K. An excellent front-facet interface recombination velocity <10/sup 5/ cm/s has been inferred from the measured low local temperature rise in the front facet.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">></ETX>