Abstract
The spatial distribution of photon modes confined in a 0D cavity and a 1D W1 waveguide is investigated on AlN-based photonic crystal (PC) membranes by spectrally resolved scanning confocal microscopy in the ultra-violet spectral range. The influence of the fabrication-induced disorder of the PC on the photon modes is analyzed. The cavity modes are shown to be robust with respect to disorder, whereas the 1D modes of the W1 waveguide are localized near its cut-off frequency. Those modifications of the lowest energy photonic modes are compared to simulations of weakly disordered photonic structures.