Effect of nonradiative recombination on light emitting properties of two-dimensional photonic crystal slab structures

InGaAsP-based two-dimensional photonic crystal light emitting structures ar e fabricated by employing wafer fusion and characterized optically. The str ucture does not contain defect regions and the whole area of the photonic c rystal is used for light generation and extraction. The effect of nonradiat ive recombination is studied as a function of pump power. The relative cont ribution of surface recombination can be as low as 10% as pump power increa ses since carrier recombination is dominated by Auger recombination. In spi te of the large surface-to-volume ratio of the photonic crystal pattern, ov er four-fold enhancement of photoluminescence extraction efficiency is obse rved. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.