Semiconductor nanowire photoluminescence : spatial/polarization averaged coupling into leaky modes

Photoluminescence from finite semiconductor nanowires is theoretically investigated. We show experimentally the directional emission of polarized light from single InP nanowires through Fourier microphotoluminescence, thus demonstrating semiconductor nanowires behave as efficient optical nanoantennas. Numerical calculations for finite nanowires confirm such enhanced and directional emission. We anticipate the relevance of these results for the development of nanowire photon sources with optimized efficiency and controlled emission.