Enhanced nanocavity Q-factor via slow light propagation and nonlinear effects

Abstract

We show that the quality factor Q of a nanocavity is enhanced when containing a dispersive slow-light medium. The strong dispersion is achieved using the Coherent Population Oscillation (CPO) effect in the quantum wells of a 2-dimensionnal photonic crystal nanocavity. Starting with a nanocavity having a Q-factor of 6300, we end up with a Q-factor of 410000. This demonstration has further been confirmed by measuring a cavity lifetime of 342 ps, whereas the initial cavity lifetime of about 5.2 ps.