Experimental demonstration of a high quality factor photonic crystal microcavity

Sub-threshold measurements of a photonic crystal (PC) microcavity laser operating at 1.3 microns show a linewidth of 0.10 nm, corresponding to a quality factor Q ~ 1.3x10^4. The PC microcavity mode is a donor-type mode in a graded square lattice of air holes, with a theoretical Q ~ 10^5 and mode volume Veff ~ 0.25 cubic half-wavelengths in air. Devices are fabricated in an InAsP/InGaAsP multi-quantum well membrane and are optically pumped at 830 nm. External peak pump power laser thresholds as low as 100 microWatts are also observed.