Broadband fivefold reduction of vacuum fluctuations probed by dyes in photonic crystals.
We observed for the first time a strong angle-independent modification of spontaneous emission spectra from laser dyes in photonic crystals, made of inverse opals in titania. Comparison with spectra from such crystals with much smaller lattice spacing, for which emission is in the long wavelength limit, reveals inhibition of emission up to a factor approximately 5 over a large bandwidth of 13% of the first order Bragg resonance frequency. The center frequency and bandwidth of the inhibition agree with calculated total density of states, while the measured inhibition of vacuum fluctuations is much larger. Because of the specific location of the dye molecules, we likely probe the strongly modulated local photonic density of states.
Koenderink
A Femius
AF
Van der Waals-Zeeman Instituut, Universiteit van Amsterdam, 1018 XE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.f.koenderink@utwente.nl
Bechger
Lydia
L
Schriemer
H P
HP
Lagendijk
Ad
A
Vos
Willem L
WL