Physics and Applications of Quantum Dots in Photonic Crystals

Abstract

Photonic crystals provide an engineerable electromagnetic environment for controlling the interaction between light and matter. In this chapter, we discuss quantum dot-embedded photonic crystal devices for classical and quantum information processing. For classical applications, we discuss high-speed, low-power lasing dynamics, and carrier-induced switching in photonic crystal cavities. For quantum information applications, we describe photonic crystals for controlling the spontaneous emission rate of embedded quantum dots in the weak-coupling regime. Using a set of tools to fine-tune the interaction between quantum dots and cavities, we also demonstrate strong coupling between single dots and photonic crystal cavities. We probe these systems by photoluminescence (PL) and by a newly developed technique for coherent optical dipole access in cavity (CODAC). With these steps, and a toolkit of independent control of quantum dots and photonic crystal components, we are seeing the beginning of a new era of coherent control of quantum systems on the chip, that promises to contribute to secure long-range communication and quantum computing.