Targeted Optical Control of an Active Medium Embedded In Photonic Crystals

We demonstrate optical control of an active medium, such as a quantum dot or an impurity atom, embedded in three-dimensional photonic crystals. The optical control provides a very high spectral selectivity, which allows us to control confined light near a targeted active medium with a specific resonant frequency. Using such an optical control, even if the other active mediums are embedded nearby, we may selectively control only the targeted active medium, leading to a basic operation of an optical memory on the nanoscale below the light wavelength.