Grating induced effects on microcavity exciton-polaritons

The optical properties of a 3/2 lambda-cavity with embedded an unidimensional rectangular grating are studied in a semi-classical framework as a function of grating periodicity, and taking into account the non-local exciton contribution to the electric polarization. The optical response is computed at normal incidence for reciprocal lattice vector of the grating closed to the characteristic light wavevector. The insertion of a thick dielectric grating in one of the antinodes of the cavity allows dramatic stretching of the optical properties of the system. In fact, a Rabi energy as large as twice that of the planar cavity without grating is pointed out for selected parameter values. This property is briefly discussed, also taking into account some degree of disorder of the system. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.