A monolithic integrated semiconductor optical element is disclosed. The
semiconductor optical element including a substrate, a first waveguide,
formed on the substrate, including a first active layer for generating
light, and a semi-insulating, grown on the substrate so as to surround a
perimeter of the first waveguide layer, including a window area for
diffusing the light outputted from the first waveguide and outputting the
diffused light. The semiconductor optical elements also includes at least
one second waveguide, formed in the window area close to the first
waveguide, including a second active layer for detecting a part of the
light diffused by the window area.