Decay of a quantum dot in two-dimensional metallic photonic crystals

In this paper we have developed a theory for the decay of a quantum dot doped in a two-dimensional metallic photonic crystal consisting of two different metallic pillars in an air background medium. This crystal structure forms a full two-dimensional photonic band gap when the appropriate pillar sizes are chosen. The advantage of using two metals is that one can easily control the density of states and optical properties of these photonic crystals by changing the plasma energies of two metals rather than one. Using the Schrödinger equation method and the photonic density of states, we calculated the linewidth broadening and the spectral function of radiation due to spontaneous emission for two-level quantum dots doped in the system. Our results show that by changing the plasma energies one can control spontaneous emission of quantum dots doped in the metallic photonic crystal.

Research Highlights► Separable model in order to understand the 2-D metallic photonic crystals’ behavior and to predict and explain their properties without the need for complicated calculations. ► Investigation of the decay rate of a two-level quantum dot doped in the 2-D metallic photonic crystal. ► Calculation the linewidth and spectral function due to spontaneous emission using analytical expression for the photonic density of states. ► Spontaneous emission control in the metallic photonic crystal by changing the plasma energy.