Incorporating polaritonic effects in semiconductor nanowire waveguide dispersion

We present the calculated and measured energy-propagation constant (E-beta) dispersion of CdS nanowire waveguides at room temperature, where we include dispersive effects via the exciton-polariton model using physical parameters instead of a phenomenological equation. The experimental data match well with our model while the phenomenological equation fails to capture effects originating due to light-matter interaction in nanoscale cavities. Due to the excitonic-polaritonic effects, the group index of the guided light peaks close to the band edge, which can have important implications for optical switching and sensor applications. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3479896]