Surface-emitting laser element, surface-emitting laser array, optical scanning device, and image forming apparatus

A surface-emitting laser element comprising:

• a substrate;
• a plurality of semiconductor layers laminated on the substrate, the plural semiconductor layers including
• a resonator structural body including an active layer and
• semiconductor multilayer film reflection mirrors having the resonator structural body sandwiched therebetween;
• a contact layer having a top surface;
• an electrode formed directly on the top surface of the contact layer, and provided in such a manner as to surround an emitting region on a surface of the surface-emitting laser element from which light is emitted;
• and
• a dielectric film formed on top of and in direct contact with the top surface of the contact layer, and provided in the emitting region such that a reflection ratio of a peripheral part of the emitting region is different from a reflection ratio of a center part of the emitting region, wherein
• edge portions that are near edges of the dielectric film are tilted with respect to the surface;
• and
• the dielectric film is provided in at least one small area included in the emitting region, the at least one small area not being included in the center part of the emitting region.