Surface emitting laser

A surface emitting laser, comprising:

• a substrate;
• a lower contact layer disposed on the substrate;
• a semiconductor layer mesa including a lower reflector layer, an active layer, an upper reflector layer, and an upper contact layer which are laminated, in the order named, on the lower contact layer;
• an annular electrode disposed on the upper contact layer;
• and
• a light transmitting window situated inside the annular electrode to transmit laser light,
• wherein the upper reflector layer includes a first region and a second region, the first region being inclusive of an area situated directly below the electrode and the light transmitting window, the second region being inclusive of an area outside the mesa and inclusive of a surrounding area of the first region within the mesa having the first region situated therein,
• wherein a proton concentration in the first region is lower than a proton concentration in the second region, and
• wherein the upper reflector layer has carbon doped therein as an impurity element, and the second region has the proton concentration therein higher than a carbon concentration therein.