Surface emitting laser, laser device, detection device, mobile object, and surface emitting laser driving method

A surface emitting laser driving method performed by a surface emitting laser including an active layer, multiple reflectors facing each other with the active layer therebetween, a multi-quantum well structure including multiple semiconductor layers in an optical path of a laser beam emitted from the active layer and the multiple reflectors, a first electrode pair connected to a first power supply and configured to inject a current into the active layer;

• and a second electrode pair connected to a second power supply and configured to apply an electric field to the multi-quantum well structure in a direction perpendicular to a well surface of the multiple-quantum well structure, the method comprising:
• not oscillating a laser beam during an electric-field application period;
• and
• oscillating a laser beam during an electric-field decrease period,
• wherein:
• the electric-field application period is a period in which the second power supply applies the electric field to the multiple-quantum well structure,
• the electric-field decrease period is a period after the electric-field application period, in which the electric field applied to the multi-quantum well structure is larger than the electric field applied during the electric-field application period, and
• at least part of a current injection period is included in at least part of the electric-field application period, where the current injection period is a period in which the first power supply injects the current into the active layer, and
• a current decrease period is a period after the current injection period, in which the current injected into the active layer is lower than the current injected during the current injection period.