A polarizing photonic band gap system has a photonic crystal emitter. The photonic crystal emitter has a crystal end surface. The photonic crystal emitter is configured to generate electromagnetic energy having a wavelength .lamda.. The system has a polarizer. The polarizer is connected to the photonic crystal emitter. The polarizer has a polarizer surface. The polarizer surface is located within a distance of said crystal end surface. The distance is sufficient to quantum mechanically couple the polarizer surface with said crystal end surface at the wavelength .lamda..