Reversed pyramids as novel optical micro-cavities

Pyramidal micro-cavities represent a novel promising class of semiconductor optical cavities. In contrast to our previous approach based on pyramids sitting on distributed Bragg reflectors, we investigate reversed freestanding GaAs pyramids. The latter are achievable by a wet-chemical etching process where an AlAs sacrificial layer in the epitaxially grown layer structure is used. In freestanding GaAs pyramids, light is simply confined by total internal reflection at the interface of the high refractive index material GaAs to the surrounding. Due to strong optical confinement within the pyramidal shape, small mode volumes are expected. Quality factors up to 3000 were measured in first structures. However, simulations suggest the possibility of much higher values. Therefore, these freestanding pyramids are promising for an optimized ratio between quality factor and mode volume, which is crucial for quantum-optical applications.