We report the development and characterization of an efficient diode-pumped surface-emitting semiconductor laser operating at similar to 870 nm. Hy using a semiconductor Bragg reflector stack/multiple GaAs quantum well structure, mounted within a conventional laser cavity, we achieved single transverse mode laser output powers of 153 mW. Self-tuning over a 15-nm spectral range has been obtained. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 140.3480, 140.6630,250.7270.