Electrically probing photonic bandgap phenomena in contacted defect nanocavities

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates an electrically tunable 2D photonic crystal nanocavity with embedded quantum dots, enabling detailed study of carrier dynamics and local radiative lifetime enhancements through combined photoluminescence, electroluminescence, and photocurrent spectroscopy.

Contribution

It introduces an electrically contactable quantum dot nanocavity platform for probing photonic bandgap phenomena and carrier dynamics in a modified photonic environment.

Findings

3.5x enhancement of local radiative lifetime of quantum dots

Electrical control enables probing of carrier capture, relaxation, and recombination

Spatially dependent photocurrent spectroscopy reveals photonic environment effects

Abstract

We demonstrate an electrically tunable two dimensional photonic crystal nanocavity containing InAs self assembled quantum dots. Photoluminescence and electroluminescence measurements are combined to probe the cavity mode structure and demonstrate a local electrical contact to the quantum dots. Measurements performed as a function of the electric field enable us to probe the capture, relaxation and recombination dynamics of photogenerated carriers inside the quantum dots emitting into a modified photonic environment. Furthermore, the two dimensional photonic crystal is probed by spatially dependent photocurrent spectroscopy indicating a 3.5x enhancement of the local radiative lifetime of the QDs inside the photonic crystal environment.