Spontaneous emission control of single quantum dots by electrostatic tuning of a double-slab photonic crystal cavity

We report the electromechanical control of spontaneous emission of single InAs quantum dots (QDs) embedded in wavelength-tunable double-membrane photonic crystal cavities (PCC). The tuning is achieved by modulating the distance between two parallel GaAs membranes by applying electrostatic forces across a p-i-n diode under reverse bias. The spontaneous emission rate of single dots has been modified by over a factor of ten, tuning the cavity reversibly between on- and off-resonant conditions without altering the emission energy of the dots. We also discuss a possible approach to integrate the double membrane structure with ridge waveguides, for the transmission of light within a photonic chip.

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