Photonic crystals are materials patterned with a periodicity in dielectric constant, which can create a range of 'forbidden' frequencies called a photonic bandgap. Photons with energies lying in the bandgap cannot propagate through the medium. This provides the opportunity to shape and mould the flow of light for photonic information technology.

Photonic crystals: putting a new twist on light

We present experimental data, numerical simulations, and analytical transfer-matrix calculations for a two-dimensionally isotropic, left-handed metamaterial (LHM) at X-band microwave frequencies. A LHM is one that has a frequency band with simultaneously negative eeff(ω) and μeff(ω), thereby having real values of index of refraction and wave vectors, and exhibiting extended wave propagation over that band. Our physical demonstration of a two-dimensional isotropic LHM will now permit experiments to verify some of the explicit predictions of reversed electromagnetic-wave properties including negative index of refraction as analyzed by Veselago [Usp. Fiz. Nauk 92, 517 (1964), Sov. Phys. Usp. 10, 509 (1968)].

/pdf/microwave-transmission-through-a-two-dimensional-isotropic-3pb2y87qwo.pdf

Microwave transmission through a two-dimensional, isotropic, left-handed metamaterial

Photonic band gaps in three dimensions: New layer-by-layer periodic structures

Sound attenuation by sculpture

Photonic Crystal Fibers: A New Class of Optical Waveguides

We present an experimental and numerical study of electromagnetic wave propagation in one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) systems composed of periodic arrays of dielectric scatterers. We demonstrate that there are regions of frequency for which the waves are exponentially attenuated for all propagation directions. These regions correspond to band gaps in the calculated band structure, and such systems are termed photonic band-gap (PBG) structures. Removal of a single scatterer from a PBG structure produces a highly localized defect mode, for which the energy density decays exponentially away from the defect origin. Energy-density measurements of defect modes are presented. The experiments were conducted at 6–20 GHz, but we suggest that they may be scaled to infrared frequencies. Analytic and numerical solutions for the band structure and the defect states in 1D structures are derived. Applications of 2D PBG structures are briefly discussed.

Photonic band structure and defects in one and two dimensions

We have calculated and measured the properties of X-band microwaves propagating in a 2D array of low-loss high-dielectric-constant cylinders. Transmission bands and photonic band gaps are conclusively identified in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions. Detailed data on the properties of isolated defect states are also presented. We conclude that studies of this model scattering system allow the quantitative evaluation and testing of ideas regarding wave propagation and localization in strongly scattering media.

R. Dalichaouch

Papers

Photonic band structure and defects in one and two dimensions

Microwave propagation in two-dimensional dielectric lattices.