Extraction of the β-factor for single quantum dots coupled to a photonic crystal waveguide

We present measurements of the beta-factor, describing the coupling efficiency of light emitted by single InAs/GaAs semiconductor quantum dots into a photonic crystal waveguide mode. The beta-factor is evaluated by means of time-resolved frequency-dependent photoluminescence spectroscopy. The emission wavelength of single quantum dots is temperature tuned across the band edge of a photonic crystal waveguide and the spontaneous emission rate is recorded. Decay rates up to 5.7 ns(-1), corresponding to a Purcell factor of 5.2, are measured and beta-factors up to 85% are extracted. These results prove the potential of photonic crystal waveguides in the realization of on-chip single-photon sources. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3446873]