Enhanced electron-hole droplet emission from surface-oxidized silicon photonic crystal nanocavities

We have observed electron-hole droplet (EHD) emission enhanced by silicon photonic crystal (Si PhC) nanocavities with a surface oxide. The EHD is employed as a massive emitter that remains inside the nanocavity to achieve efficient cavity-emitter coupling. Time-resolved emission measurements demonstrate that the surface oxide greatly reduces the nonradiative annihilation of the EHDs and maintains them in the PhC nanocavities. It is found that the surface-oxidized Si PhC nanocavity enhances EHD emission in addition to the Purcell enhancement of the resonant cavity, which will contribute to works on Si light emission and the cavity quantum electrodynamics of electron-hole condensates.