We experimentally investigate the electrical and optical characteristics of conventional quantum well laser diodes and the quantum well laser diodes with slightly-doped tunnel junction. The results show that the slightly-doped tunnel junction plays a crucial role in the laser diodes performances in the InGaAs/GaAs quantum well material system. Both the lasers are operating at 1.06 μm, but the slightly-doped tunnel junction diode show nonlinear S-shaped current–voltage and broadband lasing characteristics. The results may also lead to the realization of more applications.