A semiconductor laser is provided comprising a semiconductor substrate, an active region, a ridge waveguide, a driving electrode structure, and a micro-heating element structure. The micro-heating element structure comprises a pair of heating element strips extending along the longitudinal dimension of the semiconductor laser. The heating element strips are on opposite sides of the ridge waveguide such that one of the heating element strips extends along one side of the ridge waveguide while a remaining heating element strip extends along another side of the ridge waveguide.