Abstract: Electrical control of the emitter of a coupled quantum emitter-resonant cavity structure is provided. Electrodes are disposed near a semiconductor quantum dot coupled to a semiconductor optical cavity such that varying an applied bias at the electrodes alters an electric field at the quantum dot. Optical input and output ports are coupled to the cavity, and an optical response of the device relates light emitted from the output port to light provided to the input port. Altering the applied bias at the electrodes is capable of altering the optical response. Preferably, the closest electrode to the cavity is disposed between or away from angular lobes of the cavity mode, to reduce loss caused by the proximity of electrode to cavity. The present approach is applicable to both waveguide-coupled devices and non-waveguide devices.

Abstract: Electrical pumping of photonic crystal (PC) nanocavities using a lateral p-i-n junction is described. Ion implantation doping can be used to form the junction, which under forward bias pumps a gallium arsenide photonic crystal nanocavity with indium arsenide quantum dots. Efficient cavity-coupled electroluminescence is demonstrated in a first experimental device. Electrically pumped lasing is demonstrated in a second experimental device. This approach provides several significant advantages. Ease of fabrication is improved because difficult timed etch steps are not required. Any kind of PC design can be employed. Current flow can be lithographically controlled to focus current flow to the active region of the device, thereby improving efficiency, reducing resistance, improving speed, and reducing threshold. Insulating substrates can be employed, which facilitates inclusion of these devices in photonic integrated circuits.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to optical microcavities and emitters that are spectrally aligned in an arrangement having an array of such microcavity-emitter combinations. The spectral alignment can be selective, in that a portion of the array of microcavity-emitter combinations, or a single microcavity-emitter combination, can be individually spectrally aligned. In specific examples, light is coupled within a semiconductor device having wavelength-dependent structures and optical cavities optically couple to the wavelength-dependent structures. One of the optical cavities and a wavelength-dependent structure are spectrally aligned, independent of another of the optical cavities.

Abstract: A normally opaque waveguide interacting with a drop-filter cavity can be switched to a transparent state when the drop filter is also coupled to a dipole. This dipole induced transparency may be obtained even when the vacuum Rabi frequency of the dipole is much less than the cavity decay rate. The condition for transparency is a large Purcell factor. Dipole induced transparency can be used in quantum repeaters for long distance quantum communication.

Abstract: Optical microcavity arrangements and approaches facilitate a variety of applications. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an optical microcavity arrangement includes a microcrystal structure having a plurality of optical cavities therein to facilitate the control of light. Emitters such as colloidal quantum dots are optically coupled to the optical cavities by attaching or otherwise arranging a material, which includes the emitters, to the optical microcavity arrangement. In many applications, the emitters couple photons of a wavelength in a range of wavelengths selectively passed by the optical cavities, and are amenable to operation at relatively high temperatures (e.g., at about room temperature or higher), which is useful for a variety of applications.

Abstract: A normally opaque waveguide interacting with a drop-filter cavity can be switched to a transparent state when the drop filter is also coupled to a dipole. This dipole induced transparency may be obtained even when the vacuum Rabi frequency of the dipole is much less than the cavity decay rate. The condition for transparency is a large Purcell factor. Dipole induced transparency can be used in quantum repeaters for long distance quantum communication.

Abstract: Electrical control of the emitter of a coupled quantum emitter-resonant cavity structure is provided. Electrodes are disposed near a semiconductor quantum dot coupled to a semiconductor optical cavity such that varying an applied bias at the electrodes alters an electric field at the quantum dot. Optical input and output ports are coupled to the cavity, and an optical response of the device relates light emitted from the output port to light provided to the input port. Altering the applied bias at the electrodes is capable of altering the optical response. Preferably, the closest electrode to the cavity is disposed between or away from angular lobes of the cavity mode, to reduce loss caused by the proximity of electrode to cavity. The present approach is applicable to both waveguide-coupled devices and non-waveguide devices.

Abstract: A normally opaque waveguide interacting with a drop-filter cavity can be switched to a transparent state when the drop filter is also coupled to a dipole. This dipole induced transparency may be obtained even when the vacuum Rabi frequency of the dipole is much less than the cavity decay rate. The condition for transparency is a large Purcell factor. Dipole induced transparency can be used in quantum repeaters for long distance quantum communication.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to optical microcavities and emitters that are spectrally aligned in an arrangement having an array of such microcavity-emitter combinations. The spectral alignment can be selective, in that a portion of the array of microcavity-emitter combinations, or a single microcavity-emitter combination, can be individually spectrally aligned. In specific examples, light is coupled within a semiconductor device having wavelength-dependent structures and optical cavities optically couple to the wavelength-dependent structures. One of the optical cavities and a wavelength-dependent structure are spectrally aligned, independent of another of the optical cavities.

Abstract: A normally opaque waveguide interacting with a drop-filter cavity can be switched to a transparent state when the drop filter is also coupled to a dipole. This dipole induced transparency may be obtained even when the vacuum Rabi frequency of the dipole is much less than the cavity decay rate. The condition for transparency is a large Purcell factor. Dipole induced transparency can be used in quantum repeaters for long distance quantum communication.

Abstract: A micropost microcavity device has a maximum field intensity at the center of a high-index spacer as well as a small mode volume. The device has an approximately half-wavelength thick low-index spacer [400] sandwiched between two quarter wave stacks [410, 420]. The low-index spacer has a high-index subspacer layer [470] positioned at its center. The subspacer layer has a thickness smaller than a quarter wavelength. As a result, the electric field intensity remains a maximum at the center of the spacer where the high-index subspacer is positioned. A quantum dot or other active region [480] may be embedded within the subspacer [470]. The microcavity devices provide, for example, single photon sources, single dot lasers, low-threshold quantum dot or quantum well lasers, or devices for strong coupling between a single quantum dot and the cavity field which can be used as components of photonic integrated circuits, quantum computers, quantum networks, or quantum cryptographic systems.

Abstract: A micropost microcavity device has a maximum field intensity at the center of a high-index spacer as well as a small mode volume. The device has an approximately half-wavelength thick low-index spacer [400] sandwiched between two quarter wave stacks [410, 420]. The low-index spacer has a high-index subspacer layer [470] positioned at its center. The subspacer layer has a thickness smaller than a quarter wavelength. As a result, the electric field intensity remains a maximum at the center of the spacer where the high-index subspacer is positioned. A quantum dot or other active region [480] may be embedded within the subspacer [470]. The microcavity devices provide, for example, single photon sources, single dot lasers, low-threshold quantum dot or quantum well lasers, or devices for strong coupling between a single quantum dot and the cavity field which can be used as components of photonic integrated circuits, quantum computers, quantum networks, or quantum cryptographic systems.

Abstract: Light is processed and, in some instances, generated using an approach involving a photonic crystal resonator arrangement. According to an example embodiment, a photonic crystal resonator array includes an array of defect locations configured for controlling the group velocity of light passing through the photonic crystal resonator array. In one implementation, holes are selectively formed in a membrane, with certain periodic locations in the membrane being substantially free of holes. In other implementations, certain periodic locations as discussed above are characterized by holes having a relatively differently-shaped opening, relative to a plurality of the holes. Still other implementations involve optical delay components, lasers, sensors and other devices implemented with a photonic crystal resonator array.

Abstract: The invention is directed to different methods for controlling the positions of the guided modes of the photonic crystal waveguides. Methods based on both rearrangement of the holes and changing the size of the holes are presented. We have observed and explained the appearance of acceptor-type modes and the donor-type waveguides. The ability to tune frequencies of the guided modes within a frequency bandgap is necessary in order to achieve efficient guiding of light within a waveguide (reduced lateral and vertical waveguide losses) as well as to match frequencies of eigen modes of different photonic crystal based devices in order to have good coupling between them.

Abstract: The emission properties of light-emitting diodes are enhanced by coupling to surface plasmons. The semiconductor emitter layer of the light-emitting diode is thinner than &lgr;/2 and is sandwiched between two metal films. A periodic pattern is defined in the top semitransparent metal layer by lithography with the result that it efficiently couples out the light emitted from the semiconductor and simultaneously enhances the spontaneous emission rate. Extraction efficiencies of up to 35% and Purcell factors of up to 4.5 are obtainable. Photoluminescence intensities of up to 46 times higher in fabricated structures compared to unprocessed wafers are obtained. The increased light emission is due to an increase in the efficiency and an increase in the pumping intensity resulting from trapping of pump photons within the microcavity.

Abstract: The invention is directed to different methods for controlling the positions of the guided modes of the photonic crystal waveguides. Methods based on both rearrangement of the holes and changing the size of the holes are presented. We have observed and explained the appearance of acceptor-type modes and the donor-type waveguides. The ability to tune frequencies of the guided modes within a frequency bandgap is necessary in order to achieve efficient guiding of light within a waveguide (reduced lateral and vertical waveguide losses) as well as to match frequencies of eigen modes of different photonic crystal based devices in order to have good coupling between them.

Abstract: Optical microcavities based on two dimensional arrays of holes defined in photonic crystals are optimized for maximum Q factors and minimum mode volume. They can also be used for strong coupling between the cavity field and an atom trapped within a defect of the photonic crystals, or for tunable filters if the holes are filled with electro-optical polymers. In one embodiment the Q factor of a cavity is increased by elongation of a plurality of holes in at least one row in a predetermined direction. Modal structures of microcavities, as well as quality factors, mode volumes, symmetry properties and radiation patterns of localized defect modes as a function of the slab thickness and parameters of photonic crystal and defects are illustrated.