Spontaneous emission in micro- and nano-structures

Spontaneous emission of emitters governing the performance of optoelectronic devices is a fundamental phenomenon, and it has strong environment-dependent characteristics. In this article, we mainly review the experimental and theoretical progresses in the control of spontaneous emission by manipulating optical modes with photonic crystals, optical microcavities and metallic nanostructures. The spontaneous emission from emitters in photonic crystals can be modified by the local density of states, and by employing photonic crystals, the devices’ efficiency is enhanced, the angular radiation pattern can be engineered, and highly efficient optoelectronic devices are achieved through decreasing the radiative lifetime. In quantum optical devices, microcavities would alter the lifetime of an excited state through tuning the resonance in the frequency and positioning between the emitters and cavity field, and inducing the emitters to emit spontaneous photons in a desired direction. The emerging enhanced electromagnetic field near metallic nanostructures can help to control and manipulate the spontaneous emission of an emitter. The use of micro- and nano-structures to manipulate spontaneous emission will open unprecedented opportunities for realizing functional photonic devices.     

Decay of a quantum dot in two-dimensional metallic photonic crystals

In this paper we have developed a theory for the decay of a quantum dot doped in a two-dimensional metallic photonic crystal consisting of two different metallic pillars in an air background medium. This crystal structure forms a full two-dimensional photonic band gap when the appropriate pillar sizes are chosen. The advantage of using two metals is that one can easily control the density of states and optical properties of these photonic crystals by changing the plasma energies of two metals rather than one. Using the Schrödinger equation method and the photonic density of states, we calculated the linewidth broadening and the spectral function of radiation due to spontaneous emission for two-level quantum dots doped in the system. Our results show that by changing the plasma energies one can control spontaneous emission of quantum dots doped in the metallic photonic crystal.     

Advances in photonic crystals with MEMS and with semiconductor quantum dots

We discuss photonic crystals (PCs) with a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) and semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) as novel classes of PC devices. Integration of MEMS structures into PC devices enables one to realize several kinds of functional devices, such as modulators, switches, and tunable filters for highly integrated photonic circuits. We describe the basic concept of MEMS-integrated PC devices and show numerical and experimental demonstrations of MEMS-integrated functional PC devices. On the other hand, QDs are promising candidates for active media in PC devices. Spontaneous emission control of QD emission in PC nanocavities is especially important for novel optoelectronic devices and quantum information devices. In PC nanocavities, the interaction between QD excitons and photons is enhanced dramatically. The control of spontaneous emission spectrum and the enhancement of the luminescence intensity of InAs QDs by PC nanocavities are demonstrated at telecommunication wavelengths. The Purcell effect for ensemble and single QDs in PC nanocavities are also discussed.     

Purcell effect in one-dimensional photonic quasicrystals

The change in probability of spontaneous emission for emitter placed in one-dimensional photonic quasicrystal (optical Fibonacci lattice) was examined. When the dipole is placed in Fibonacci lattice two different scenarios can be expected: enhancing (if frequency and direction of the dipole emission correspond to optical eigenmode of structure, and position corresponds to maximum value of modes electric field profile) or suppression (in case of photonic band gap) of spontaneous emission rate. Fact that both effects are expressed in quasicrystals less than in the Bragg reflectors and in the microcavities was demonstrated.     

Fabrication of three‐dimensional photonic crystals in quantum‐dot‐based materials

Controlling spontaneous emission (SE) is of fundamental importance to a diverse range of photonic applications including but not limited to quantum optics, low power displays, solar energy harvesting and optical communications. Characterized by photonic bandgap (PBG) property, three‐dimensional (3D) photonic crystals (PCs) have emerged as a promising synthetic material, which can manipulate photons in much the same way as a semiconductor does to electrons. Emission tunable nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs) are ideal point sources to be embedded into 3D PCs towards active devices. The challenge however lies in the combination of QDs with 3D PCs without degradation of their emission properties. Polymer materials stand out for this purpose due to their flexibility of incorporating active materials. Combining the versatile multi‐photon 3D micro‐fabrication techniques, active 3D PCs have been fabricated in polymer‐QD composites with demonstrated control of SE from QDs. With this milestone novel miniaturized photonic devices can thus be envisaged.     

Controlled coupling of NV defect centers to plasmonic and photonic nanostructures

Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect centers in diamond have recently emerged as promising candidates for a number of applications in the fields of quantum optics and quantum information, such as single photon generation and spin qubit operations. The performance of these defect centers can strongly be enhanced through coupling to plasmonic and photonic nanostructures, such as metal particles and optical microcavities. Here, we demonstrate the controlled assembly of such hybrid structures via manipulation with scanning near-field probes. In particular, we investigate the plasmonic enhancement of the single photon emission through coupling to gold nanospheres as well as the coupling of diamond nanocrystals to the optical modes of microsphere resonators and photonic crystal cavities. These systems represent prototypes of fundamental nanophotonic/plasmonic elements and provide control on the generation and coherent transfer of photons on the level of a single quantum emitter.     

基于单边傅里叶变换的非马尔科夫自发辐射研究

基于单边傅里叶变换,本文提出一种研究辐射子的自发衰减动力学演化的普适方法.利用该方法研究了辐射子处于均匀介质、理想微腔和泄露微腔中的自发辐射动力学演化问题,最后并把这种方法用于处理光子带隙材料中的辐射动力学演化问题.结果表明:辐射子的自发辐射动力学特性由局域态密度决定,可以通过调控辐射子周围的局域态密度来调控辐射子的自发辐射特性,为实现新型的光电子器件提供了理论基础.该方法不仅适用于马尔科夫热库的情况也适用于非马尔科夫热库的情况.     

Controlled plasmon-enhanced fluorescence by spherical microcavity

A surrounding electromagnetic environment can engineer spontaneous emissions from quantum emitters through the Purcell effect. For instance, a plasmonic antenna can efficiently confine an electromagnetic field and enhance the fluorescent process. In this study, we demonstrate that a photonic microcavity can modulate plasmon-enhanced fluorescence by engineering the local electromagnetic environment. Consequently, we constructed a plasmon-enhanced emitter (PE-emitter), which comprised a nanorod and a nanodiamond, using the nanomanipulation technique. Furthermore, we controlled a polystyrene sphere approaching the PE-emitter and investigated in situ the associated fluorescent spectrum and lifetime. The emission of PE-emitter can be enhanced resonantly at the photonic modes as compared to that within the free spectral range. The spectral shape modulated by photonic modes is independent of the separation between the PS sphere and PE-emitter. The band integral of the fluorescence decay rate can be enhanced or suppressed after the PS sphere couples to the PE-emitters, depending on the coupling strength between the plasmonic antenna and the photonic cavity. These findings can be utilized in sensing and imaging applications.     

Probing the photonic density of states using layer-by-layer self-assembly

The process of spontaneous emission can be dramatically modified by optical microstructures and nanostructures. We have studied the modification of fluorescence dynamics using a variable thickness polymer spacer layer fabricated using layer-by-layer self-assembly with nanometer accuracy. The change in fluorescence lifetime with spacer layer thickness agrees well with theoretical predictions based on the modified photonic density of states (PDOS), and yields consistent values for the fluorophores' intrinsic fluorescence lifetime and quantum yield near a dielectric as well as a plasmonic interface. Based on this observation, we further demonstrate that self-assembled fluorophores can be used to probe the modified PDOS near optical microstructures and nanostructures.     

金属-介质-金属渔网超表面结构调控的荧光辐射：空间选择性激发和双增强

增强荧光辐射在生物成像、高灵敏探测、集成光源等方面都具有重要的应用价值.金属纳米颗粒的周围或者金属纳米结构的间隙都可以产生强的电磁场,相应的,这些结构附近的局域态密度也被极大地增强.虽然增强荧光辐射已经在多种金属纳米颗粒和颗粒对中被证明,但是利用金属纳米结构对荧光分子的吸收和辐射过程同时进行调制仍然是一个有挑战的问题.本文研究了金属-介质-金属超表面对荧光辐射的调控,其中局域表面等离激元(LSP)和磁等离激元(MPP)分別与于分子的吸收和辐射过程发中耦合相互作用.对于吸收过程,LSP的耦合作用使得可以通过旋转泵浦激光的偏振态来实现荧光分子的空间选择激发.此外,MPP模式的偏振依赖特性使得矩形渔网结构中的荧光分子的辐射波长和偏振态也受到调控.实验观测结果经过了时域有限差分模拟的验证.本文报道的纳米结构在光辐射器件和纳米尺度集成光源等方面都具有潜在的应用价值.     

Mode manipulation in system of coupled microcavities with whispering gallery modes

In recent years the studies of electromagnetic modes in solid spherical microcavities have been of great interest both for their potential applications and fundamental optical properties. A system of coherently coupled microcavities may be called a “photonic molecule” and can be employed in the tight-binding device in order to manipulate photons in micrometer length scale. In this work we demonstrate the possibility of mode manipulation in systems of symmetric photonic molecules formed by placing several high-Q micro-spheres in contact. We observe photonic nanojets that reflect the symmetry of the photonic molecule, with 3 jets located at 120 degrees with respect to each other for the triangular photonic molecule. A benzene molecule-like structure consisting of a 7-microspheres cyclic photonic molecule shows a field emission pattern similar to the spatial distribution of the orbitals of the benzene molecule. We also present some results showing the coexistence of whispering gallery modes and photonic nanojets in the same structure.     

Controlling spontaneous emission and threshold-less laser oscillation with optical microcavities

We describe the alteration of spontaneous emission of materials in optical microcavities having dimensions on the order of the emitted wavelength. Particular attention is paid to one-dimensional optical confinement structures with pairs of planar reflectors (planar microcavities). The presence of the cavity causes great modifications in the emission spectrum and spatial emission intensity distribution accompanied by changes in the spontaneous emission lifetime. Experimental results are shown for planar microcavities containing GaAs quantum wells or organic dye-embedded Langmuir-Brodgett films as light emitting layers. Also discussed are the laser oscillation properties of microcavities. A remarkable increase in the spontaneous emission coupling into the laser oscillation mode is expected in microcavity lasers. A rate equation analysis shows that increasing the coupling of spontaneous emission into the cavity mode causes the disappearance of the lasing threshold in the input-output curve. Experimentally verification is presented using planar optical microcavities confining an organic dye solution. The coupling ratio of spontaneous emission into a laser mode increases to be as large as 0.2 for a cavity having a half wavelength distance between a pair of mirrors. At this point, the threshold becomes quite fuzzy. Differences between the spontaneous emission dominant regime and the stimulated emission dominant regime are examined with emission spectra and emission lifetime analyses.     

Chalcogenide glass photonic crystals

All-optical switching devices are based on a material possessing a nonlinear optical response, enabling light to control light, and are enjoying renewed interest. Photonic crystals are a promising platform for realizing compact all-optical switches operating at very low power and integrated on an optical integrated circuit. In this review, we show that by making photonic crystals from a highly nonlinear chalcogenide glass, we have the potential to integrate a variety of active devices into a photonic chip. We describe the fabrication and testing of two-dimensional Ge₃₃As₁₂ Se₅₅ chalcogenide glass photonic crystal membrane devices (waveguides and microcavities). We then demonstrate the ability to post-tune the devices using the material photosensitivity. In one proposal we hope to introduce a double-heterostructure microcavity using the photosensitivity alone.     

Physics and applications of photonic crystals

In this article, we investigate how the photonic band gaps and the variety of band dispersions of photonic crystals can be utilized for various applications and how they further give rise to completely novel optical phenomena. The enhancement of spontaneous emission through coupled cavity waveguides in a one-dimensional silicon nitride photonic microcrystal is investigated. We then present the highly directive radiation from sources embedded in two-dimensional photonic crystals. The manifestation of novel and intriguing optical properties of photonic crystals are exemplified experimentally by the negative refraction and the focusing of electromagnetic waves through a photonic crystal slab with subwavelength resolution.     

Improvement of the luminescence in p-type as-prepared or dye impregnated porous silicon microcavities

We have realized distributed Bragg reflectors and microcavities with a remarkable optical quality (R_max.=99.5% at 850 nm, FWHM=5 nm at 772 nm) with low doped p-type silicon. This is due to a strong decrease of the porous Si/bulk Si interface roughness that was obtained by low-temperature anodization. The properties of porous silicon microcavities are investigated by photoluminescence and reflection measurements. We also have filled porous silicon with Rhodamine 800 dye. The spontaneous emission spectrum of the optically excited Rhodamine 800 is drastically modified by microcavity effect: the peak emission intensity is increased, the line width is narrowed. The results demonstrate that using all porous silicon or dye-filled microcavities provides new possibilities to improve the properties of photonic devices.     

Spontaneous emission in the near field of two-dimensional photonic crystals

We show theoretically that photonic crystal membranes cause large variations in the spontaneous emission rate of dipole emitters, not only inside but also in the near field above the membranes. Our three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain calculations reveal an inhibition of more than five times and an enhancement of more than ten times for the spontaneous emission rate of emitters with select dipole orientations and frequencies. Furthermore, we demonstrate theoretically the potential of a nanoscopic emitter attached to the end of a glass fiber tip as a local probe for mapping the large spatial variations of the photonic crystal local radiative density of states. This arrangement is promising for on-command modification of the coupling between an emitter and the photonic crystal in quantum optical experiments.     

Recent progress in the fabrication of SERS substrates based on the arrays of polystyrene nanospheres

Micro/nanostructures have broad applications in diverse application fields, such as surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), photocatalysis, field emission, photonic crystals, microfluidic devices, electrochemical devices, etc. Using polystyrene (PS) spheres formed monolayer colloidal crystal templates as masks, scaffolds, or molds with different materials growth techniques, many different periodic nanostructured arrays can be obtained with the building units varied from nanoparticles, nanopores, nanorings, nanorods, to nanoshells. Significant progresses have been made on the synthesis of micro/nanostructures with efficient SERS response. In this review, we mainly focus on the various PS template-based fabrication techniques in realizing micro/nanostructured arrays and the SERS applications.     

III-Nitride Quantum Devices—Microphotonics

Photonic devices based on III-nitrides offer benefits such as UV/blue emission, large band offsets of InN/GaN/AlN heterostructures allowing novel quantum well (QW) device design, and inherently high-emission efficiencies. Furthermore, due to their mechanical hardness and larger band gaps (when compared with conventional semiconductor devices), III-nitride-based devices may operate at much higher temperatures and voltages/power levels for any dimensional configuration and in harsher environments than other semiconductor devices and are expected to provide much lower temperature sensitivities. These are crucial advantages for many applications. Over the last decade, the physics of microsize photonic devices has been investigated. New physical phenomena and properties are expected to dominate as the device size scales down. The microsize light emitters offer benefits over edge emitters such as the ability to create arrays of individually controllable pixels on a single chip, enhanced quantum efficiency, and greatly reduced lasing threshold. Rapid progress in the area of III-nitride microphotonics has been made. The growth and fabrication of micron and submicron size photonic structures based on III-nitride wide bandgap semiconductors has been achieved, and the technology has made it possible to integrate arrays of optical elements to form active photonic-integrated devices. One example is an interconnected µ-LED with enhanced emission efficiency over the conventional LEDs for the same device area. Another example is a µ-LED array with independently addressed pixels or III-nitride microdisplay. III-nitride microdisplay may offer performance that is superior to microdisplays fabricated from liquid crystals and organic LEDs. The third example presented is III-nitride UV Focal Plane Arrays (UV-FPA) of detectors. So far, the operation of AlGaN UV-FPA with size up to 256×256 pixels with 30×30?μm² unit cells has been demonstrated. Together with the nature of their two-dimensional array, these active micro-photonic devices show promise in many important applications, such as optical communications, signal and image processing, optical interconnects, computing, enhanced energy conversion and storage, chemical, biohazard substances, and disease detection, missile and shellfire, atmospheric ozone-level, and flame sensing. III-nitride microlens arrays have been fabricated successfully for blue and UV wavelength applications on GaN and AlN. The successful fabrication of microlens arrays based on III-nitride materials opens the possibility for monolithically integrating nitride-based micro-size photonic devices, as well as coupling light into, out of, and between arrays of III-nitride emitters and detectors, especially for short wavelengths covering the green-blue to deep UV (200?nm) region. Nanofabrication and characterization of photonic crystals with diameter/periodicity as small as 100/180?nm on InGaN/GaN MQW has been achieved. An unprecedented maximum enhancement factor of 20 was obtained under optical pumping. Single-mode ridged optical waveguide devices using GaN/AlGaN heterostructures have been designed, fabricated, and characterized for operation in 1550?nm wavelength window. The feasibility of developing novel photonic integrated circuits based on III-nitride wide bandgap semiconductors for fiber-optical communications has been investigated.     

Two-photon reduction: a cost-effective method for fabrication of functional metallic nanostructures

Metallic nanostructures have underpinned plasmonic-based advanced photonic devices in a broad range of research fields over the last decade including physics, engineering, material science and bioscience. The key to realizing functional plasmonic resonances that can manipulate light at the optical frequencies relies on the creation of conductive metallic structures at the nanoscale with low structural defects. Currently, most plasmonic nanostructures are fabricated either by electron beam lithography (EBL) or by focused ion beam (FIB) milling, which are expensive, complicated and time-consuming. In comparison, the direct laser writing (DLW) technique has demonstrated its high spatial resolution and cost-effectiveness in three-dimensional fabrication of micro/nanostructures. Furthermore, the recent breakthroughs in superresolution nanofabrication and parallel writing have significantly advanced the fabrication resolution and throughput of the DLW method and made it one of the promising future nanofabrication technologies with low-cost and scalability. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the state-of-the-art DLW fabrication technology for nanometer scale metallic structures. The fabrication mechanisms, different material choices, fabrication capability, including resolution, conductivity and structure surface smoothness, as well as the characterization methods and achievable devices for different applications are presented. In particular, the development trends of the field and the perspectives for future opportunities and challenges are provided at the end of the review. It has been demonstrated that the quality of the metallic structures fabricated using the DLW method is excellent compared with other methods providing a new and enabling platform for functional nanophotonic device fabrication.     

Spontaneous emission from a microwave-driven four-level atom in an anisotropic photonic crystal

The spontaneous emission from a microwave-driven four-level atom embedded in an anisotropic photonic crystal is studied. Due to the modified density of state(DOS) in the anisotropic photonic band gap(PBG) and the coherent control induced by the coupling fields, spontaneous emission can be significantly enhanced when the position of the spontaneous emission peak gets close to the band gap edge. As a result of the closed-loop interaction between the fields and the atom,the spontaneous emission depends on the dynamically induced Autler–Townes splitting and its position relative to the PBG.Interesting phenomena, such as spectral-line suppression, enhancement and narrowing, and fluorescence quenching, appear in the spontaneous emission spectra, which are modulated by amplitudes and phases of the coherently driven fields and the effect of PBG. This theoretical study can provide us with more efficient methods to manipulate the atomic spontaneous emission.