Enhanced modulation bandwidth of nanocavity light emitting devices

We show that the direct modulation bandwidth of nano-cavity light emitting devices (nLEDs) can greatly exceed that of any laser. By performing a detailed analysis, we show that the modulation bandwidth can be increased by the Purcell effect, but that this enhancement occurs only when the device is biased below the lasing threshold. The maximum bandwidth is shown to be inversely proportional to the square root of the modal volume, with sub-wavelength cavities necessary to exceed conventional laser speeds. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America