Determination of optical modes in two-dimensional finite-size photonic crystals by photonic resonance scattering

The analogy of the resonance scattering of an electron by an atom is used t o investigate optical modes in two-dimensional finite-size photonic-crystal resonators. This analysis enables us to determine complex resonance energi es from which we can estimate optical modes and photon lifetimes in the res onators. The threshold amplitude gain of the laser exploiting this photonic -crystal resonator is inversely proportional to the photon lifetime. This l inear relation is found to remain the same irrespective of the dimensionali ty of the photonic crystal structure, the number of unit cells, and the siz e of unit cell, as long as the filling factor of the gain cell is fixed. Th is implies that the two-dimensional finite-size photonic-crystal resonators work well despite complicated feedback mechanisms and the absence of clear -cut cavity mirrors. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.