Quantum Dot Photonic Crystal Light Sources

The control and manipulation of light on a planar IC similar to that achieved for electrons in semiconductor chips on submicrometer and nanometerscales is an area of very active research today. While electronic device miniaturization is close to reaching its maximum possible potential, photonic devices have unique properties that have yet to be exploited. With increasing advances in nanofabrication techniques and the understanding of optical properties of semiconductors, several optical devices such as lasers, detectors, interferometers,and waveguides have been constantly shrinking in size. We have achieved very high speed integrated optical devices at 10-100-/spl mu/m length scales. However, there is a need to further reduce the size of devices to make them competitive in size and cost to existing electronic devices and to utilize their potential and unique properties in a wide range of applications ranging from communications, displays to sensors. Photonic crystals have emerged as one of the best potential candidates that can achieve the goal of compact miniaturized photonic chips. In this paper, we describe the current efforts and advances made in the photonic crystal microcavity light sources and their future prospects.