Near-field visualization of the propagation and confinement of light in 2-dimensional photonic crystals

In this paper we present our latest results and discuss future experiments where the techniques of scanning probe microscopy will be used to couple a sub-wavelength emitter to a photonic crystal microcavity in the near-infra-red regime. Photonic crystals have been subject of intensive studies in the past few years. A point defect in a photonic crystal results in a resonance in the band gap and confinement of light to a region much smaller than a wavelength. A linear array of such point defects creates a photonic band gap waveguide and the combination of such waveguides will in turn produce a wealth of optical elements such as beam splitters, interferometers and microcavities.