Abstract

Manipulating light emission from quantum wells is important to the development of semiconductor devices. Often microcavities have been used to alter characteristics of semiconductor lasers such as lasing thresholds and emission profiles.^1,2 Using the simple system of a single quantum well located near a metal- coated surface, we have demonstrated large enhancements in the quantum efficiency for luminescence emitted from the quantum well after optical excitation. We interpret these enhancements as due to the surface-plasmon excitation in the thin metallic film.

© 1998 Optical Society of America