The peak material gains of 1.3 µm semiconductor material systems are numerically studied with a LASTIP simulation program. Specifically, the optical properties of the AlGaInAs and InGaAsN material systems are investigated. Simulation results suggest that, using a p-type AlInAs electron stopper layer, improved temperature dependence of slope efficiency in the operating temperature range from 25 to 85 °C can be obtained for a ridge-waveguide AlGaInAs/InP laser structure. On the other hand, using a strain-compensated active region consisting of In0.36Ga0.64As0.99N0.01 (6 nm)/GaAs0.99N0.01 (10 nm), a high laser performance and stimulated emission characteristics can be achieved for a ridge-waveguide InGaAsN/GaAs laser structure.