Resonant microcavities employing one-dimensionally periodic dielectric waveguides

A resonant microcavity which exhibits an electromagnetic mode for use in a microlaser, comprising:

• a substrate;
• a planar dielectric waveguide configured along the surface of said substrate, said waveguide confining radiation generated therewithin, in at least two dimensions in space by refractive index guiding through total internal reflection, said radiation defining a spectrum of electromagnetic modes, said waveguide including a region having a one-dimensionally periodic variation of dielectric constant along its axial direction which is perpendicular to said at least two dimensions in space, thus defining a bandgap in said spectrum of electromagnetic modes;
• and
• a local defect disposed in said region of said dielectric waveguide which accommodates in all three dimensions spacial confinement of radiation in the vicinity of said defect, said spacial confinement resulting from a combination of the bandgap along said axial direction and refractive index guiding along said at least two dimensions in space, and accommodating the generation of at least one electromagnetic mode of radiation within said bandgap.

A method of enhancing radiation confinement within a resonant microcavity and minimizing radiation losses into an associated substrate, said method comprising:

• configuring said microcavity within a planar dielectric waveguide which is constructed along the surface of said substrate, said waveguide confining radiation generated therewithin, in at least two dimensions in space by refractive index guiding through total internal reflection, said radiation defining a spectrum of electromagnetic modes;
• providing a region in said waveguide having a one-dimensionally periodic variation of dielectric constant along the axial direction which is perpendicular to said at least two dimensions in space, thus creating a bandgap in said spectrum of electromagnetic modes;
• providing a local defect in said region which accommodates in all three dimensions spacial confinement of radiation in the vicinity of said defect which results from a combination of the bandgap along said axial direction and refractive index guiding along said at least two dimensions in space, so as to generate at least one electromagnetic mode within said bandgap;
• and
• increasing the refractive index contrast between said microcavity and said substrate.

A method of producing a resonant microcavity with enhanced radiation confinement, comprising:

• providing a substrate;
• forming a periodic waveguide on and parallel to the plane of said substrate;
• forming a local defect in said periodic waveguide which accommodates spacial confinement of radiation generated within said waveguide around said defect;
• removing said substrate from beneath said local defect so as to produce a bridge configuration in which said defect is surrounded by air.

A resonant microcavity comprising:

• a planar periodic dielectric waveguide;
• and
• a defect in said periodic dielectric waveguide which accommodates spacial confinement of radiation generated within said waveguide around said defect, wherein
• said waveguide is suspended in air in a bridge configuration between substrate supports such that said defect is surrounded by air.

A resonant microcavity which exhibits an electromagnetic mode for use in a microlaser, comprising:

• a planar one-dimensionally periodic dielectric waveguide which confines radiation generated therewithin along all three dimensions in space, said waveguide having a periodic variation of dielectric constant along its axial direction;
• and
• a local defect disposed in said periodic dielectric waveguide which accommodates spacial confinement of radiation around said defect, wherein
• said waveguide is suspended in air in a bridge configuration between substrate supports such that said local defect is surrounded by air.