The quality factors of modes in nearly identical GaAs and
Al_{0.18}Ga_{0.82}As microdisks are tracked over three wavelength ranges
centered at 980 nm, 1460 nm, and 1600 nm, with quality factors measured as high
as 6.62x10^5 in the 1600-nm band. After accounting for surface scattering, the
remaining loss is due to sub-bandgap absorption in the bulk and on the
surfaces. We observe the absorption is, on average, 80 percent greater in
AlGaAs than in GaAs and in both materials is 540 percent higher at 980 nm than
at 1600nm.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, minor changes to disucssion of Qrad and
Urbach tai
