Coupled modes in parallel pillar microcavities: theory

Abstract:

The photonic modes of two identical, parallel microcavities are studied as a function of various parameters controlling the strength of the interaction between the isolated cavities. Coupling between the modes, which is determined by the overlap between the decaying e.m. field produced by one cavity in the region occupied by the second one, removes the degeneracy between the fundamental modes of the isolated structures. The energy splitting is found to depend strongly on the radius of the cavities, their distance, and the refractive index contrast between the core and the external medium.