Quantum electrodynamics in three-dimensionally periodic structures

Abstract

Recently, the possibility of obtaining ISE in spectral bands of forbidden light propagation (photonic bandgaps) has been suggested by Yablonovitch.¹ These bandgaps are spectral regions admitting only complex wavevectors k (evanescent waves) in any direction, and boundecl by frequencies ω_max((min) at which the dispersion curve ω(k) becomes discontinuous. Because they are associated with definite k (band edges), such hndgaps are delocalized in space, i.e., they inhibit spontaneous emission independently of t.he spatial distribution of emitters in the system. The systems that have been proposed¹ for the demonstration of bandgaps are dielectric superlattices that exhibit strong three-dimensional (3D) periodic moclulations of the dielectric index with a period comparable to half the emission wavelength.