"Controlling Light at the Nanoscale: Quantum Dots in Photonic Crystal Cavities."

The interaction between quantum dot emitters and carefully constructed optical resonators can result in profound changes in the optical behavior of the system, infleuencing factors as fundamental as the spontaneous lifetimes of the emitters.  The most dramatic interactions occur when the quantum dot emitters and the optical cavity are "strongly coupled".  These conditions occur when there is a resonance in the frequency of the quantum dots and the frequency of the cavity mode, as well as a spatial coincidence of the quantum dot with the location of the maximum mode strength.  This talk will describe recent results achieved for MBE-grown InAs quantum dots embedded within optical cavities fabricated from GaAs photonic crystal material.  Our work in the controlled positioning of quantum dots within the cavities will also be highlighted.