Electrically injected quantum dot photonic crystal microcavity light emitters and microcavity arrays

Progress in the design, fabrication and characterization of electrically injected photonic-crystal quantum-dot microcavity light sources is described. In the devices investigated in this study, the carriers are injected directly into the photonic crystal microcavity, avoiding the surface state recombination in the photonic crystal pattern. A novel and robust air-bridge contact technology is demonstrated. Spectral linewidths ∼2–3 nm are observed from hexagonal microcavities of varying sizes in the output spectra of oxide-clad microcavity devices. Narrower linewidths ∼1.3 nm are observed from air-clad devices. Results on arrays of densely packed oxide-clad photonic crystal microcavities are also presented. Spectral characteristics of oxide-clad and air-clad devices are compared. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)