A vertical cavity surface emitting laser includes: a supporting base; and a post including an upper distributed Bragg reflecting region, an active layer, and a lower distributed Bragg reflecting region. The upper distributed Bragg reflecting region, the active layer, and the lower distributed Bragg reflecting region are arranged on the supporting base. The lower distributed Bragg reflecting region includes first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers alternately with each of the first semiconductor layers having a refractive index lower than that of each of the second semiconductor layers. The upper distributed Bragg reflecting region includes first layers and second layers alternately with each of the first layers having a group III-V compound semiconductor portion and a group III oxide portion. The group III-V compound semiconductor portion contains aluminum as a group III constituent element, and the group III oxide portion surrounds the group III-V compound semiconductor portion.

A vertical cavity surface emitting laser includes: a supporting base: and a post including an upper distributed Bragg reflecting region, an active layer, and a lower distributed Bragg reflecting region. The upper distributed Bragg reflecting region, the active layer, and the lower distributed Bragg reflecting region are arranged on the supporting base. The lower distributed Bragg reflecting region includes first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers alternately arranged. The first semiconductor layers each have a refractive index lower than that of each of the second semiconductor layers. The upper distributed Bragg reflecting region includes first layers and second layers alternately arranged. The first layers each have a group III-V compound semiconductor portion and a group III oxide portion. The group III-V compound semiconductor portion contains aluminum as a group III constituent element, and the group III oxide portion surrounds the group III-V compound semiconductor portion.