A two-dimensional photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser 10 includes: a two-dimensional photonic crystal (two-dimensional photonic crystal layer 12) including a plate-shaped base body 121 having a predetermined size in which modified refractive index areas 122 whose refractive index differs from the base body are periodically arranged in a two-dimensional pattern; an active layer 11 provided on one side of the two-dimensional photonic crystal; and first and second electrodes 15 and 16 facing each other across the two-dimensional photonic crystal and the active layer 11, for supplying an electric current to the active layer 11. The modified refractive index areas 122 are provided in such a manner that the in-plane occupancy of those areas 122 in the base body 121 decreases, or the lattice constant for those areas 122 increases, in the direction from an outer edge toward the center of a current passage region 21 which is a region where the electric current passes through the two-dimensional photonic crystal. With this configuration, a stable laser oscillation can be obtained even when a temperature distribution which is lower at the outer edge and higher at the center of the current passage region is formed within the two-dimensional photonic crystal.
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