  We study analytically defect polariton states in Bragg multiple-quantum-well
structures and defect induced changes in transmission and reflection spectra.
Defect layers can differ from the host layers in three ways: exciton-light
coupling strength, exciton resonance frequency, and inter-well spacing. We show
that a single defect leads to two local polariton modes in the photonic
bandgap. These modes cause peculiarities in reflection and transmission
spectra. Each type of defect can be reproduced experimentally, and we show that
each of these plays a distinct role in the optical properties of the system.
For some defects, we predict a narrow transmission window in the forbidden gap
at the frequency set by parameters of the defect. We obtain analytical
expressions for corresponding local frequencies as well as for reflection and
transmission coefficients. We show that the presence of the defects leads to
resonant tunneling of the electromagnetic waves via local polariton modes
accompanied by resonant enhancement of the field inside the sample, even when a
realistic absorption is taken into account. On the basis of the results
obtained, we make recommendations regarding the experimental observation of the
effects studied in readily available samples.
