title: Tuning quantum-dot based photonic devices with liquid crystals.
abstract: Microdisks made from GaAs with embedded InAs quantum dots are immersed in the liquid crystal 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB). The quantum dots serve as emitters feeding the optical modes of the photonic cavity. By changing temperature, the liquid crystal undergoes a phase transition from the isotropic to the nematic state, which can be used as an effective tuning mechanism of the photonic modes of the cavity. In the nematic state, the uniaxial electrical anisotropy of the liquid crystal molecules can be exploited for orienting the material in an electric field, thus externally controlling the birefringence of the material. Using this effect, an electric field induced tuning of the modes is achieved. Numerical simulations using the finite-differences time-domain (FDTD) technique employing an anisotropic dielectric medium allow to understand the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules on the surface of the microdisk resonator.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department and CeOPP, University of Paderborn, Warburger Strasse 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.
authors.forename: Karoline A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Piegdon
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Declair
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Förstner
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matthias
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urbanski
authors.forename: Heinz-S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kitzerow
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.forename: Andreas D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Wieck
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lorke
authors.forename: Cedrik
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meier