All-optical control of the spontaneous emission of quantum dots using coupled-cavity quantum electrodynamics

Abstract: We demonstrate the remote all-optical control of the spontaneous emission (SE) of quantum dots using coupled photonic crystal cavities. By spectrally tuning a Fabry-Perot cavity in resonance with a target cavity, the quality factor and the local density of states experienced by emitters in the target cavity are modified, leading to a change in the SE rate. From the theoretical analysis of the coupled-cavity quantum electrodynamics system, the SE rate change can be higher than the quality factor change due to a reduction of the vacuum field at the emitter's position when the two cavities are brought in resonance. Both the weak and strong coupling regimes of two cavities have been observed experimentally and the SE decay rate has been modified by more than a factor of three with remote optical control.