To provide an optical element comprising a surface emission laser having good high frequency characteristics, and a light receiving element for detecting a part of laser light emitted from the surface emission laser.

The optical element 100 comprises a surface emission laser 130, a light receiving element 120 for detecting a part of laser light emitted from the surface emission laser 130. The surface emission laser comprises a first mirror 102 formed above a substrate 101, an active layer 103 formed above the first mirror, and a second mirrors 104 and 108 formed above the active layer. The light receiving element comprises a light absorption layer 111 formed above the second mirror, a first impurity containing layer 114 formed above the light absorption layer, a second impurity containing layer 115 formed above the light absorption layer, a first electrode 112 formed above the first impurity containing layer, and a second electrode 113 formed above the second impurity containing layer.