Epitaxial quantum dots in stretchable optical microcavities

Arrays of GaAs microring optical resonators with embedded InGaAs quantum dots (QDs) are placed on top of Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3))O(3)-PbTiO(3) piezoelectric actuators, which allow the microcavities to be reversibly "stretched" or "squeezed" by applying relatively large biaxial stresses at low temperatures. The emission energy of both QDs and optical modes red- or blue- shift depending on the strain sign, with the QD emission shifting more rapidly than the optical mode with applied strain. The QD energy shifts are used to estimate the strain in the structures based on linear deformation potential theory and the finite element method. The shift of the modes is attributed to both the physical deformation and the change in refractive index due to the photoelastic effect. Remarkably, excitonic emissions from different QDs are observed to shift at different rates, implying that this technique can be used to bring spatially separated excitons into resonance.