Recent developments in the design and fabrication of visible photonic band gap waveguide devices

In this paper, we present the design, fabrication and initial optical testing of dielectric waveguide devices which incorporate photonic crystals with photonic band gaps (PBG) in the visible region of the spectrum. In the design of our devices we use a full three-dimensional plane wave analysis to solve the photonic band structure simultaneously with the dielectric waveguide boundary conditions for a fixed lattice and waveguide geometry. This takes into account the finite thickness of the waveguide core, and the evanescent wave in the dielectric cladding layers. Furthermore, we explain how the effective Bloch mode index can be extracted from the results. This enables us to tackle important problems associated with mode coupling between the input waveguide and guided Bloch modes within the porous PBG region, such as Fresnel reflections at the interface and up-scattering from the holes. Finally, we present the recent fabrication of quasi-periodic photonic crystals and PBG waveguide bends.     

A hybrid multiplexer/de-multiplexer for wavelength-mode-division based on photonic crystals

A hybrid multiplexer/de-multiplexer (HMUX/HDeMUX) for wavelength-mode-division based on photonic crystals (PCs) is presented. The proposed device consists of a point-defect cavity, a wavelength-selective cavity and asymmetrical parallel waveguides. Coupled-mode theory (CMT) is applied to the analysis, and the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used for the simulations. The simulation results show that the device can multiplex the fundamental and first-order modes of 1550 and 1310 nm. It exhibits not only a low insertion loss (<0.37 dB) but also low mode crosstalk (相似文献   

Effect of oblique light incidence on magnetooptical properties of one-dimensional photonic crystals

We have investigated the magnetooptical properties of one-dimensional magnetic photonic crystals for the case of oblique light incidence. We developed a theoretical model based on the transfer matrix approach. We found several new effects such as transmittance resonance peak shift versus external magnetic field and the Faraday effect dependence on the incidence angle. We discuss several possible one-dimensional magnetic photonic crystals applications for the optical devices.     

Hierarchical nanoparticle bragg mirrors: tandem and gradient architectures

To manipulate electrons in semiconductor electronic and optical devices, the usual approach is through materials composition, electronic bandgap, doping, and interface engineering. More advanced strategies for handling electrons in semiconductor devices include composition-controlled heterostructures and gradient structures. By analogy to the manipulation of electrons in semiconductor crystals by electronic bandgaps, photons in photonic crystals can be managed using photonic bandgaps. In this context, the simplest photonic crystal is the Bragg mirror, a periodic dielectric construct whose photonic bandgap is engineered through variations of the optical thickness of its constituent layers. Traditionally the materials comprising these periodic dielectric layers are nonporous, and they have mainly been used in the field of optical and photonic devices. More recently these Bragg mirrors have been made porous by building the layers from nanoparticles with functionality and utility that exploit their internal voids. These structures are emerging in the area of photonic color-coded chemical sensing and controlled chemical release. Herein, a strategy for enhancing the functionality and potential utility of nanoparticle Bragg mirrors by making the constituent dielectric layers aperiodic and porous is described. It is exemplified by prototypical tandem and gradient structures that are fully characterized with regards to their structure, porosity, and optical and photonic properties.     

Equal-frequency surface analysis of two-dimensional photonic crystals

This paper presents an analytical treatment of equal-frequency surface analysis of a two-dimensional photonic crystal. We first define the equal-frequency surface in terms of plane waves, which can be numerically evaluated. Then one- and two-plane-wave approximations are proposed, which consequently lead to analytical expressions of the equal-frequency surface. The approach presented is well suited to two-dimensional photonic crystals of weak dielectric modulation. For photonic crystals with a large modulation, the approach can be used to gain a general idea of the shape of the bands.     

Focusing concave lens using photonic crystals with magnetic materials

The guided modes lying in the upper gap-edge band in the photonic band structure of photonic crystals have negative values of refractive index. This feature generates many interesting optical phenomena, and some spectacular photonic devices such as focusing slabs have been developed. We report the design of a photonic-crystal, planoconcave lens for focusing incident parallel light, and theoretically analyze the chromatic aberrations for TM and TE modes. In addition to dielectric photonic crystals, the chromatic aberration of a magnetic photonic-crystal planoconcave lens was investigated because the magnetic permeability may also contribute to the periodic index contrast in photonic crystals, especially at long wavelengths. A significant difference was found in the chromatic aberration for a TM mode propagating in a dielectric than in a magnetic photonic-crystal planoconcave lens.     

Getting effective permittivity and permeability equal to −1 in 1D dielectric photonic crystals

J.B. Pendry (Phys. Rev. Lett., 86 3966 (2000)) mentioned the possibility of making perfect lenses using a slab of left-handed material with relative permeability, permittivity and optical index equal to ?1. This kind of metamaterial has been made in the microwaves domain, using metal and dielectric materials. On the other hand, it has been shown that lenses made using 2D dielectric photonic crystals can generate similar imaging properties, but until now, the image contains only a small part of the incident light. The paper shows, using a very simple analytical model, that 1D dielectric photonic crystals can generate left-handed materials with relative permeability, permittivity and optical index rigorously equal to ?1. Of course, such photonic crystals cannot be used to make perfect lenses, but this conclusion leads to the conjecture that 2D or 3D dielectric photonic crystals could be used in the visible region to realize superlenses.     

Magnetic assembly of nonmagnetic particles into photonic crystal structures

We report the rapid formation of photonic crystal structures by assembly of uniform nonmagnetic colloidal particles in ferrofluids using external magnetic fields. Magnetic manipulation of nonmagnetic particles with size down to a few hundred nanometers, suitable building blocks for producing photonic crystals with band gaps located in the visible regime, has been difficult due to their weak magnetic dipole moment. Increasing the dipole moment of magnetic holes has been limited by the instability of ferrofluids toward aggregation at high concentration or under strong magnetic field. By taking advantage of the superior stability of highly surface-charged magnetite nanocrystal-based ferrofluids, in this paper we have been able to successfully assemble 185 nm nonmagnetic polymer beads into photonic crystal structures, from 1D chains to 3D assemblies as determined by the interplay of magnetic dipole force and packing force. In a strong magnetic field with large field gradient, 3D photonic crystals with high reflectance (83%) in the visible range can be rapidly produced within several minutes, making this general strategy promising for fast creation of large-area photonic crystals using nonmagnetic particles as building blocks.     

Hybrid colloidal plasmonic-photonic crystals

We review the recently emerged class of hybrid metal-dielectric colloidal photonic crystals. The hybrid approach is understood as the combination of a dielectric photonic crystal with a continuous metal film. It allows to achieve a strong modification of the optical properties of photonic crystals by involving the light scattering at electronic excitations in the metal component into moulding of the light flow in series to the diffraction resonances occurring in the body of the photonic crystal. We consider different realizations of hybrid plasmonic-photonic crystals based on two- and three-dimensional colloidal photonic crystals in association with flat and corrugated metal films. In agreement with model calculations, different resonance phenomena determine the optical response of hybrid crystals leading to a broadly tuneable functionality of these crystals.     

Investigation of Absolute Photonic Band Gaps in Two-dimensional Dielectric Structures

Abstract

We examine the photonic band structure of two-dimensional (2D) arrays of dielectric holes using the coherent microwave transient spectroscopy (COMITS) technique. Such 2D hole arrays are constructed by embedding low-index rods (air) in a dielectric background of higher-index Stycast material (n = 3·60). The dispersion relation for electromagnetic wave propagation in these photonic crystals is directly determined using the phase sensitivity of COMITS. We find that both the square and triangular lattice structures exhibit photonic band gaps that are common to both polarizations for all wave-vectors along major symmetry axes. In addition, the connectivity of the high-index dielectric and the opening of a large gap for propagation with E field perpendicular to the hole cylinders are found to be important criteria for generating a large absolute photonic band gap.     

Improved single mode property in elliptical air hole photonic crystal fiber

The single mode property of a holey, index-guided two-dimensional photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is investigated using the alternate direction implicit method. The modal analysis of a three-ring elliptical air hole photonic crystal fiber is performed and compared with the equivalent three-ring circular air hole photonic crystal fiber keeping the air-fill fraction the same for both cases. The fiber is investigated for single mode operation. The effect of the rotation of the ellipse axes on these characteristics is also considered. It is observed that a PCF with elliptical air holes exhibits a better single mode property over a wider wavelength range in the optical domain. Also when the diameter of the air hole is properly catered for, they can show an endlessly single mode property.     

非空气-石英结构PCF的带隙特性分析

光子晶体光纤是近十来年兴起的一个新兴的研究领域,是现今纤维光学的研究重点,光子带隙特性是光子晶体光纤区别传统光纤的主要特征。本文利用全矢量平面波展开法对非空气-石英结构PCF的带隙特性进行分析,并且重点讨论空气孔内填充介电材料对光子带隙存在的影响。     

Polarization response of two-dimensional metallic photonic crystals studied by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

The polarization characteristics of a terahertz (THz) wave transmitted through two-dimensional (2-D) metallic photonic crystals (MPCs) are investigated. The 2-D MPCs studied in this paper are metal slabs perforated periodically with circular holes. We measured the polarization characteristics of the THz wave using a THz time-domain spectroscopic system with wire grid polarizers in the time and frequency domains. The linearly polarized incident THz wave changes its polarization direction and becomes elliptic after it transmits through the sample. This phenomenon is highly sensitive to the incident angle. It is shown that the frequency range at which the polarization rotation occurs is related to the lattice constant of a photonic crystal, indicating the importance of photonic band modes of the 2-D MPC in the mechanism of the phenomenon.     

Electro-tunable optical diode based on photonic bandgap liquid-crystal heterojunctions

Manipulation of light is in strong demand in information technologies. Among the wide range of linear and nonlinear optical devices that have been used, growing attention has been paid to photonic crystals that possess a periodic modulation of dielectric function. Among many photonic bandgap (PBG) structures, liquid crystals with periodic structures are very attractive as self-assembled photonic crystals, leading to optical devices such as dye lasers. Here we report a new hetero-PBG structure consisting of an anisotropic nematic layer sandwiched between two cholesteric liquid-crystal layers with different helical pitches. We optically visualized the dispersion relation of this structure, displaying the optical diode performance: that is, the non-reciprocal transmission of circular polarized light at the photonic-bandgap regions. Transmittance spectra with circularly polarized light also reveal the diode performance, which is well simulated in calculations that include an electro-tunable diode effect. Lasing action was also confirmed to show the diode effect with a particular directionality.     

Analysis of strictly bound modes in photonic crystal fibers by use of a source-model technique

We describe a source-model technique for the analysis of the strictly bound modes propagating in photonic crystal fibers that have a finite photonic bandgap crystal cladding and are surrounded by an air jacket. In this model the field is simulated by a superposition of fields of fictitious electric and magnetic current filaments, suitably placed near the media interfaces of the fiber. A simple point-matching procedure is subsequently used to enforce the continuity conditions across the interfaces, leading to a homogeneous matrix equation. Nontrivial solutions to this equation yield the mode field patterns and propagation constants. As an example, we analyze a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber. Symmetry characteristics of the modes are discussed and exploited to reduce the computational burden.     

Exploring for 3D photonic bandgap structures in the 11 f.c.c. space groups

The promise of photonic crystals and their potential applications has attracted considerable attention towards the establishment of periodic dielectric structures that in addition to possessing robust complete bandgaps, can be easily fabricated with current techniques. A number of theoretical structures have been proposed. To date, the best complete photonic bandgap structure is that of diamond networks having Fd3m symmetry (2-3 gap). The only other known complete bandgap in a face-centred-cubic (f.c.c.) lattice structure is that of air spheres in a dielectric matrix (8-9 gap; the so called 'inverse-opal' structure). Importantly, there is no systematic approach to discovering champion photonic crystal structures. Here we propose a level-set approach based on crystallography to systematically examine for photonic bandgap structures and illustrate this approach by applying it to the 11 f.c.c. groups. This approach gives us an insight into the effects of symmetry and connectivity. We classify the F-space groups into four fundamental geometries on the basis of the connectivity of high-symmetry Wyckoff sites. Three of the fundamental geometries studied display complete bandgaps--including two: the F-RD structure with Fm3m symmetry and a group 216 structure with F43m symmetry that have not been reported previously. By using this systematic approach we were able to open gaps between the 2-3, 5-6 and 8-9 bands in the f.c.c. systems.     

Enhanced transmission through periodic arrays of sub-wavelength holes with different media

The enhanced transmission of a metallic photonic crystal slab filled with different linear media in the hole-structure is investigated theoretically. The results show that the transmission peaks exhibit a red shift when the dielectric constants of the media are increased. By varying the thickness of the linear media, the enhanced transmission peak generated by the holes has a great shift and the one generated by the surface plasmon moves slightly. By changing the position of the linear media, these two transmission peaks have no significant shift.     

Template-assisted growth of nominally cubic (100)-oriented three-dimensional crack-free photonic crystals

Three-dimensional (3D) photonic crystals (PhCs) are now beginning to acquire functionality via the use of dopants and heterostructures. However, the self-organized fabrication of large-area single crystals that are free of cracks and stacking faults has remained a challenge. We demonstrate a technology for the fabrication of (100)-oriented thin film 3D opal PhCs that exhibit no cracks over areas having no intrinsic size limit via a modified template-assisted colloidal self-assembly approach onto a patterned substrate. This technology potentially makes available large area regions of single photonic crystal, which can be used for optoelectronic devices.     

光子晶体的能带结构、潜在应用和制备方法

光子晶体是指具有光子能带和能隙的一类新型材料,它具有奇特的调节光子传播状态的特性．本文将从光子晶体的能带结构、潜在应用和制备方法三方面对其进行综述性介绍．由于光子晶体有着非常广阔的应用前景,这一领域已成为当今世界范围内的研究热点．     

Hemispherical Brillouin zone imaging of a diamond-type biological photonic crystal

The brilliant structural body colours of many animals are created by three-dimensional biological photonic crystals that act as wavelength-specific reflectors. Here, we report a study on the vividly coloured scales of the diamond weevil, Entimus imperialis. Electron microscopy identified the chitin and air assemblies inside the scales as domains of a single-network diamond (Fd3m) photonic crystal. We visualized the topology of the first Brillouin zone (FBZ) by imaging scatterometry, and we reconstructed the complete photonic band structure diagram (PBSD) of the chitinous photonic crystal from reflectance spectra. Comparison with calculated PBSDs indeed showed a perfect overlap. The unique method of non-invasive hemispherical imaging of the FBZ provides key insights for the investigation of photonic crystals in the visible wavelength range. The characterized extremely large biophotonic nanostructures of E. imperialis are structurally optimized for high reflectance and may thus be well suited for use as a template for producing novel photonic devices, e.g. through biomimicry or direct infiltration from dielectric material.