Cavity Q, mode volume, and lasing threshold in small diameter AlGaAs microdisks with embedded quantum dots

The quality factor (Q), mode volume (V-eff), and room-temperature lasing threshold of microdisk cavities with embedded quantum dots (QDs) are investigated. Finite element method simulations of standing wave modes within the microdisk reveal that Veff can be as small as 2 (lambda/n)(3) while maintaining radiation-limited Qs in excess of 10(5). Microdisks with a 2 mu m diameter are fabricated in an AlGaAs material containing a single layer of InAs QDs with peak emission at lambda = 1317 nm. For devices with V-eff similar to 2 (lambda/n)(3), Qs as high as 1.2 x 10(5) are measured passively in the 1.4 mu m band, using an optical fiber taper waveguide. Optical pumping yields laser emission in the 1.3 mu m band, with room temperature, continuous-wave thresholds as low as 1 mu W of absorbed pump power. Out-coupling of the laser emission is also shown to be significantly enhanced through the use of optical fiber tapers, with a laser differential efficiency as high as xi similar to 16% and out-coupling efficiency in excess of 28% measured after accounting for losses in the optical fiber system. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.