A vertical cavity surface emitting laser includes four contacts and an optical resonator (having two Bragg reflectors, a photodiode, and an active layer between the Bragg reflectors). The second Bragg reflector has three parts. The first part has a pair of layers with different refractive indices and a second conductivity type. The second part has a pair of layers with different refractive indices and a first conductivity type. The third part has a pair of layers with different refractive indices and the second conductivity type. A light absorption structure of the photodiode is between the second and third parts. The first and second electrical contacts provide a current to pump the resonator. The light absorption structure is outside the current path. The third and fourth electrical contacts contact the photodiode. The second and third electrical contact respectively contact the first and second parts and are separated by a semiconductor layer.