From modal control to spontaneous emission and gain in photonic crystal waveguides

We review the various progresses towards light control in a series of photonic crystal waveguides we studied by the internal light source method on GaAs or InP substrates, or theoretically. We focus mostly on the canonical few-missing rows waveguides. We address physics issues, and device issues as well, looking at demultiplexing functions, gain, lasing and spontaneous emission. In the end of the paper, we briefly give some clues on our insight on ultra-slow modes and ultra-narrow confinement capabilities in the single missing row “W1” waveguide.