The fabrication and performance characteristics of a vertical cavity s
urface emitting laser design which uses lateral current injection for
low resistance and lateral oxidation for carrier confinement is descri
bed. The 4 mu m diameter devices have a threshold current of similar t
o 1.5 mA and emit few mW. The 50 mu m diameter devices have a threshol
d current of similar to 200 mA and emit similar to 250 mW in a single
wavelength. The lasers emit at near 1 mu m.