To provide a surface-emitting optical laser array which disposes a plurality of surface emitting optical laser elements at a high density without increasing the thermal interference.

Each VCSEL is partly connected to other regions (outer regions) than the VCSEL through an epitaxial part orthogonally to the laminating direction (X-axial direction). Compared with the conventional mesa-shaped VCSEL array enclosed fully with trenches, the radiation is great in the direction orthogonal to the lamination to reduce the temperature rise of each VCSEL. One VCSEL is enclosed with a plurality of trenches 106 to raise the proportion of its portion connected to the outer region through the epitaxial part, compared with that enclosed with a simple trench. It is separated from adjacent VCSELs through one trench, this enabling a high density layout, and suppressing the thermal interference low with the adjacent VCSELs, the same as the mesa-shaped array.

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