A vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser diode (VCSEL) device, including a laser element portion formed on a substrate, the laser element portion comprising a multi-layer reflective mirror of a first conductivity type, an active layer, and a multi-layer reflective mirror of a second conductivity type, and a light absorbing heat converting region at a position thermally connected to the laser element portion on the substrate, the light absorbing heat converting region absorbing light and generating heat.