Slow and fast light propagation and controllable switch at λ = 1.55 µm in a photonic crystal with a defect layer doped by an InAs/GaAs quintuple-coupled quantum dot molecule nanostructure

Abstract

The transient and steady-state behavior of the probe absorption and dispersion at 1.55 µm wavelength through a 1D photonic crystal with a defect layer doped by an InAs/GaAs quintuple quantum dot molecule nanostructure are discussed. We show that the group velocity of a light pulse can be controlled just by controlling the rate of incoherent pumping and interdot tunneling. We also investigate the electro-optical switching time of light propagation from subluminal to superluminal or vice versa. The time required to switch from subluminal to superluminal light propagation is found to be in the range 17–34 ps. Such controllable optical properties in a 1D photonic crystal with a defect layer may provide some new possibilities for technological applications in optoelectronics, solid-state quantum information science and systems dealing with signal processing.