Lasing in localized modes of a slow light photonic crystal waveguide

We demonstrate lasing in GaAs photonic crystal waveguides with InAs quantum dots as gain medium. Structural disorder is present due to fabrication imperfection and causes multiple scattering of light and localization of light. Lasing modes with varying spatial extend are observed at random locations along the guide. Lasing frequencies are determined by the local structure and occur within a narrow frequency band which coincides with the slow light regime of the waveguide mode. The three-dimensional numerical simulation reveals that the main loss channel for lasing modes located away from the waveguide end is out-of-plane scattering by structural disorder. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3600344]