Simulation of light emission from thin-film microcavities

In light-emitting devices based on thin-film technology, light waves that are partially or totally reflected at interfaces between different materials interfere and influence the angular distribution of the emitted light. For an electrical dipole transition, the radiation pattern is equivalent to that of an electrical dipole antenna. New theoretical expressions are provided for the radiation, discriminating for polarization, emission angle, absorption, and transmission; and the numerical calculation of discrete modes, narrow modes, and evanescent waves near absorbing media is discussed.