Resonant Cavity Enhanced (RCE) Photonic Devices

We review the family of optoelectronic devices whose performance is enhanced by placing the active device structure inside a Fabry-Perot resonant microcavity. Such resonant cavity enhanced (RCE) devices
benefit from the wavelength selectivity and the large amplification of the resonant optical field introduced by the cavity. The increased optical field allows RCE photodetector structures to be thinner and therefore faster, while simultaneously increasing the quantum efficiency at the resonant wavelengths. Off-resonance wavelengths are
rejected by the cavity making RCE photodetectors promising for low crosstalk wavelength demultiplexing (WDM). RCE optical modulators require fewer quantum wells so are capable of reduced voltage operation. The spontaneous emission spectrum of RCE light emitting diodes (LED) is drastically altered, improving the spectral purity,
directivity, brightness and efficiency of these devices. RCE devices are also highly suitable for integrated detectors and emitters with applications as in optical logic and in communication networks.