High-quality-factor and small-mode-volume hexapole modes in photonic-crystal-slab nanocavities

Using finite-difference time-domain calculations, we investigate the hexapole mode of photonic-crystal-slab modified triangular single-defect cavity structures as a good candidate for a high-quality factor (Q) and small-mode volume (V) resonant mode. Structural parameters are optimized to obtain very large Q of even higher than 2x10(6) with small effective V of the order of cubic wavelength in material, the record value of theoretical Q/V. It is found, by the Fourier-space investigation of resonant modes, that such a high Q from the hexapole mode is achieved due both to the cancellation mechanism related to hexagonally symmetric whispering-gallery-mode distribution and to the mode delocalization mechanism. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.