Enhanced spontaneous emission using quantum dots and an apertured microcavity

Spontaneous emission characteristics from apertured microcavities are studied using quantum-dot light emitters. Spatial averaging over the emitter positions within the apertures significantly impacts the measured lifetime changes, but lifetime changes due to the aperture modes are still readily observed. A maximum increase of a factor of /spl sim/2.5 over the cavity-free emission rate is measured. We argue that, for a narrow bandwidth emitter, the microcavity enhancement can lead to nearly-single-mode and high-speed operation even in the spontaneous regime.