Measurement of spontaneous emission from a two-dimensional photonic band gap defined microcavity at near-infrared wavelengths

An active, photonic band gap-based microcavity emitter in the near infrared is demonstrated. We present direct measurement of the spontaneous emission power and spectrum from a microcavity formed using a two-dimensional photo nic band gap structure in a half wavelength thick slab waveguide. The appea rance of cavity resonance peaks in the spectrum correspond to the photonic band gap energy. For detuned band gaps, no resonances are observed. For dev ices with correctly tuned band gaps, a two-time enhancement of the extracti on efficiency was demonstrated compared to detuned band gaps and unpatterne d material. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)01611-3] .