Optical characterization of active photon cages

TL;DR

This paper explores the optical properties of innovative 3D photon cage resonators that can confine light tightly in fluids, demonstrating their potential for sensing applications through numerical and experimental studies with quantum dot emitters.

Contribution

It presents the first experimental validation of photon cages with active quantum emitters, highlighting their potential for enhanced light-matter interactions in sensing.

Findings

Successful integration of PbS quantum dots into photon cages

Demonstration of photoluminescence from quantum dots within cages

Validation of photon cages' confinement and interaction capabilities

Abstract

Recently, we developed a new family of 3D photonic hollow resonators which theoretically allow tight confinement of light in a fluid (gaz or liquid): the photon cages. These new resonators could be ideal for sensing applications since they not only localize the electromagnetic energy in a small mode volume but also enforce maximal overlap between this localized field and the environment (i.e. a potential volume of nano-particles). In this work, we will present numerical and experimental studies of the interaction of a photon cage optical mode with nano-emitters. For this, PbS quantum dot emitters in a PDMS host matrix have been introduced in photon cages designed to have optimal confinement properties when containing a PDMS-based active medium. Photoluminescence measurements have been performed and the presence of quantum dot emitters in the photon cages has been demonstrated.