Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Subsequent Event [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	Subsequent Events Business Realignment On August 5, 2012, we entered into a definitive agreement which will consolidate the Company's terrestrial CPV system engineering and development efforts, for both ground mount and rooftop terrestrial CPV products, into the Company's joint venture, Suncore. EMCORE employees who are currently engaged in terrestrial CPV product and business development, as well as key engineering, sales, and marketing personnel, will be transferred to Suncore. Suncore will fund all ongoing R&D, marketing, sales, and business development functions related to terrestrial CPV systems. EMCORE will continue to own all of its intellectual property related to solar cell technology and maintain investment activities to advance CPV solar cell performance to serve a broader customer base within the CPV industry. Executive Officer On August 6, 2012, Mr. Reuben Richards, Jr. proposed to the Board to step-down from his position as the Company's Executive Chairman and all other positions he held as an officer or employee of the Company and its affiliates, effective as of September 30, 2012. Mr. Richards will remain as Chairman of the Board and a member of the Board. The Company and Mr. Richards entered into a separation agreement and general release, dated August 6, 2012 (Separation Agreement), which includes mutual releases by Mr. Richards and the Company of all claims related to Mr. Richards' employment and service relationship with, and termination of employment and service from, the Company. Under the terms of the Separation Agreement, Mr. Richards acknowledged and agreed that the restrictive covenants contained in his employment agreement would remain in full force and effect. The separation agreement provides for among other things, the continuation of his base salary for 88 weeks, benefits for 18 months, and immediate vesting of all his outstanding non-vested equity awards. These payments are not contingent upon any future service by Mr. Richards. The Company expects to record a charge of $1.2 million related to Mr. Richards' separation agreement. Mr. Richards has the unilateral right to revoke the Separation Agreement by providing written notice to the Company on or before August 13, 2012.

Subsequent Events

Business Realignment

On August 5, 2012, we entered into a definitive agreement which will consolidate the Company's terrestrial CPV system engineering and development efforts, for both ground mount and rooftop terrestrial CPV products, into the Company's joint venture, Suncore. EMCORE employees who are currently engaged in terrestrial CPV product and business development, as well as key engineering, sales, and marketing personnel, will be transferred to Suncore. Suncore will fund all ongoing R&D, marketing, sales, and business development functions related to terrestrial CPV systems. EMCORE will continue to own all of its intellectual property related to solar cell technology and maintain investment activities to advance CPV solar cell performance to serve a broader customer base within the CPV industry.

Executive Officer

On August 6, 2012, Mr. Reuben Richards, Jr. proposed to the Board to step-down from his position as the Company's Executive Chairman and all other positions he held as an officer or employee of the Company and its affiliates, effective as of September 30, 2012. Mr. Richards will remain as Chairman of the Board and a member of the Board.

The Company and Mr. Richards entered into a separation agreement and general release, dated August 6, 2012 (Separation Agreement), which includes mutual releases by Mr. Richards and the Company of all claims related to Mr. Richards' employment and service relationship with, and termination of employment and service from, the Company. Under the terms of the Separation Agreement, Mr. Richards acknowledged and agreed that the restrictive covenants contained in his employment agreement would remain in full force and effect. The separation agreement provides for among other things, the continuation of his base salary for 88 weeks, benefits for 18 months, and immediate vesting of all his outstanding non-vested equity awards. These payments are not contingent upon any future service by Mr. Richards. The Company expects to record a charge of $1.2 million related to Mr. Richards' separation agreement. Mr. Richards has the unilateral right to revoke the Separation Agreement by providing written notice to the Company on or before August 13, 2012.