Optical bistability in a quantum dots/micropillar device with a quality factor exceeding 200 000

Optical bistability is demonstrated in a micropillar cavity with a record quality factor of 215 000, embedding a few thousand quantum dots. A power threshold of 380μW is obtained, with an on/off response contrast of 5.6 dB. We characterize the saturation of the quantum dots absorption and the cavity mode frequency shift through coherent reflection spectroscopy. We show that a near-unity coupling efficiency is achieved and that the planar quality factor Q0 is around 450 000.