Three-dimensional photonic-crystal emission through thermal excitation

A three-dimensional tungsten photonic crystal is thermally excited and shown to emit light at a narrow band, lambda = 3.3-4.25 microm. The emission is experimentally observed to exceed that of the free-space Planck radiation over a wide temperature range, T = 475-850 K. It is proposed that an enhanced density of state associated with the propagating electromagnetic Bloch waves in the photonic crystal is responsible for this experimental finding.     

Negative refraction in two-dimensional photonic crystals

We present some of our recent results for negative refraction in photonic crystals. The concept of negative refraction in photonic crystals is firstly introduced. Then, the propagation of electromagnetic waves in photonic crystals is systematically studied. By the layer Korringa–Kohn–Rostoker method, the coupling efficiency between external plane waves and the Bloch waves in photonic crystals is investigated. It is found that the coupling coefficient is highly angular dependent even for an interface between air with n=1 and a photonic crystal with effective index n_eff=-1. It is also shown that, for point imaging by a photonic crystal slab, owing to the negative refraction, the influence of the surface termination on the transmission and the imaging quality is significant. Finally, we present results experimentally demonstrating negative refraction in a two-dimensional photonic crystal at optical communication wavelengths. PACS 42.70.Qs; 41.85.Ct; 42.30.Va     

Focusing of light by negative refraction in a photonic crystal slab superlens on silicon-on-insulator substrate

We experimentally demonstrate the light focusing by negative refraction in a photonic crystal slab superlens at wavelengths lambda of 1.26-1.42 microm. The photonic crystal slab was fabricated on silicon-on-insulator substrate with an interface structure optimized for low reflection and diffraction losses. The light focusing in the photonic crystal slab was clearly observed through the intentional out-of-plane radiation or scattering of guided light in the slab. The minimum focused spot width was limited to 1.8 microm(1.4 lambda) owing to aberrations. The focusing characteristics were in good agreement with those obtained from photonic band and finite-difference time-domain analyses.     

Beaming of light and enhanced transmission via surface modes of photonic crystals

We report beaming and enhanced transmission of electromagnetic waves by use of surface corrugated photonic crystals. The modes of a finite-size photonic crystal composed of dielectric rods in free space have been analyzed by the plane-wave expansion method. We show the existence of surface propagating modes when the surface of the finite-size photonic crystal is corrugated. We theoretically and experimentally demonstrate that the transmission through photonic crystal waveguides can be substantially increased by the existence of surface propagating modes at the input surface. In addition, the power emitted from the photonic crystal waveguide is confined to a narrow angular region when an appropriate surface corrugation is added to the output surface of the photonic crystal.     

Experimental demonstration of self-collimation inside a three-dimensional photonic crystal

We present our experimental demonstration of self-collimation inside a three-dimensional (3D) simple cubic photonic crystal at microwave frequencies. The photonic crystal was designed with unique dispersion property and fabricated by a high precision computer-controlled machine. The self-collimation modes were excited by a grounded waveguide feeding and detected by a scanning monopole. Self-collimation of electromagnetic waves in the 3D photonic crystal was demonstrated by measuring the 3D field distribution, which was shown as a narrow collimated beam inside the 3D photonic crystal but a diverged beam in the absence of the photonic crystal.     

Using Josephson vortex lattices to control terahertz radiation: tunable transparency and terahertz photonic crystals

The Josephson vortex (JV) lattice is a periodic array that scatters electromagnetic waves in the THz-frequency range. We show that JV lattices can produce a photonic band-gap structure (THz photonic crystal) with easily tunable forbidden zones controlled by the in-plane magnetic field. The scattering of electromagnetic waves by JVs results in a strong magnetic-field dependence of the reflection and transparency. Fully transparent or fully reflected frequency windows can be conveniently tuned by the in-plane magnetic field. These proposals are potentially useful for controllable THz filters.     

Broadband light generation at approximately 1300 nm through spectrally recoiled solitons and dispersive waves

We experimentally study the generation of broadband light at approximately 1300 nm from an 810 nm Ti:sapphire femtosecond pump laser. We use two photonic crystal fibers with a second infrared zero-dispersion wavelength (lambda Z2) and compare the efficiency of two schemes: in one fiber lambda Z2=1400 nm and the light at 1300 nm is composed of spectrally recoiled solitons; in the other fiber lambda Z2=1200 nm and the light at 1300 nm is composed of dispersive waves.     

Optics of globular photonic crystals

Recent experimental and theoretical results on the optical properties of globular photonic crystals coauthored by the author are presented. The dispersion relation for electromagnetic waves in a 1D photonic crystal that simulates the properties of a selected direction in the globular photonic crystal is calculated. The spectral ranges that are characterized by the anomalous slowing of electromagnetic waves in the photonic crystal and correspond to the stop-band edges are determined. A method for the measurement of the transmission and reflection spectra of the broadband radiation in photonic crystals is proposed. The method enables one to find the characteristics of the stop bands. The features of the secondary emission that emerges in opals due to the UV and visible excitation are reported. The conditions for the low-threshold lasing in opals filled with rareearth elements are presented. The experimental results on the induced-globular light scattering are demonstrated. Such a scattering implies the coherent excitation of vibrational states of the globules in a globular photonic crystal. A new phenomenon (slow light scattering) which involves the excitation of slow photons (slowtons) that correspond to the stop-band edges of the photonic crystal is observed. The conditions for the measurement of the slow light scattering in opals excited using the ruby and nitrogen lasers are experimentally determined. The experimental and theoretical results open up the prospects for low-threshold nonlinear optical processes in material media.     

Mesoporous Photonic-Crystal Films for Amplification and Filtering of Electromagnetic Radiation

We consider optical properties of mesoporous aluminum-oxide-based photonic crystal films, derive the dispersion relation for electromagnetic waves, obtain the effective refractive index of the photonic crystal, and determine group velocities and effective masses of photons and polaritons in the mesoporous media. We compare the reflection spectra calculated with the experimental results. We discuss the potential for using mesoporous photonic-crystal films as amplifiers of electromagnetic radiation, high-efficiency selective mirrors, and optical filters.     

渐变空气孔THz波光子晶体光纤的色散特性

太赫兹(THz)波是指频率介于0.1THz～10THz范围内的电磁波,即介于毫米波与红外线之间,太赫兹波有很多优越的特性,在国防、航天、医学等领域具有潜在的应用价值。本文设计了一种渐变的空气孔THz波光子晶体光纤,其包层由周期分布的渐变空气孔构成,芯区是去掉一个空气孔形成的缺陷。采用带有良匹配层(APML)吸收边界的全矢量时域有限差分法(finite-difference time-domain,FDTD)对其色散特性进行了数值分析,计算结果表明这种渐变空气孔光子晶体光纤具有较强的色散控制能力。     

Surface wave-induced enhancement of the Goos-Hänchen effect in one-dimensional photonic crystals

The excitation conditions of surface electromagnetic waves in one-dimensional photonic crystals (Bragg reflectors) are studied. Surface electromagnetic waves are visualized by the far-field optical microscopy of the surface of the photonic crystal. The enhancement of the Goos-Hänchen effect by surface electromagnetic waves excited in one-dimensional photonic crystals has been experimentally observed. The Goos-Hänchen shift reaches 30λ for a wavelength of λ = 532 nm.     

Spectral properties of a one-dimensional resonant photonic crystal

The eigenexcitation and transmission spectra of a one-dimensional resonant photonic crystal are studied for TM and TE polarized electromagnetic waves. The crystal considered is a layered structure consisting of alternating isotropic layers and layers of a resonantly absorbing gas. The performed calculations show that the band structure of the spectra of the resonant photonic crystal significantly changes as the angle of incidence and the density of the resonant gas are varied. The structure of the spectra of additional transmission in the bandgap of the resonant photonic crystal is studied taking into account the decay of electromagnetic modes. The possibilities of controlling the spectrum of electromagnetic modes are indicated.

     

Bragg polaritons: strong coupling and amplification in an unfolded microcavity

Periodic incorporation of quantum wells inside a one-dimensional Bragg structure is shown to enhance coherent coupling of excitons to the electromagnetic Bloch waves. We demonstrate strong coupling of quantum well excitons to photonic crystal Bragg modes at the edge of the photonic band gap, which gives rise to mixed Bragg polariton eigenstates. The resulting Bragg polariton branches are in good agreement with the theory and allow demonstration of Bragg polariton parametric amplification.     

Optical properties of photonic crystals filled with iodine vapor

Properties of electromagnetic waves in the photonic crystal with pores filled with iodine vapor are considered. The conditions of the permittivity resonance appearance in the visible region of the spectrum, caused by the electronic transition in iodine molecules, are determined. For the resonant photonic crystal under study, dispersion curves, group velocities of electromagnetic waves, and reflection spectra are calculated for various globule diameters.     

Physics and applications of photonic crystals

In this article, we investigate how the photonic band gaps and the variety of band dispersions of photonic crystals can be utilized for various applications and how they further give rise to completely novel optical phenomena. The enhancement of spontaneous emission through coupled cavity waveguides in a one-dimensional silicon nitride photonic microcrystal is investigated. We then present the highly directive radiation from sources embedded in two-dimensional photonic crystals. The manifestation of novel and intriguing optical properties of photonic crystals are exemplified experimentally by the negative refraction and the focusing of electromagnetic waves through a photonic crystal slab with subwavelength resolution.     

Reflection-free one-way edge modes in a gyromagnetic photonic crystal

We point out that electromagnetic one-way edge modes analogous to quantum Hall edge states, originally predicted by Raghu and Haldane in 2D photonic crystals possessing Dirac point-derived band gaps, can appear in more general settings. We show that the TM modes in a gyromagnetic photonic crystal can be formally mapped to electronic wave functions in a periodic electromagnetic field, so that the only requirement for the existence of one-way edge modes is that the Chern number for all bands below a gap is nonzero. In a square-lattice yttrium-iron-garnet crystal operating at microwave frequencies, which lacks Dirac points, time-reversal breaking is strong enough that the effect should be easily observable. For realistic material parameters, the edge modes occupy a 10% band gap. Numerical simulations of a one-way waveguide incorporating this crystal show 100% transmission across strong defects.     

Absolute band gaps in two-dimensional graphite photonic crystal

The off-plane propagation of electromagnetic (EM) waves in a two-dimensional (2D) graphite photonic crystal structure was studied using transfer matrix method. Transmission spectra calculations indicate that such a 2D structure has a common band gap from 0.202 to 0.2035 c/a for both H and E polarizations and for all off-plane angles form 0° up to 90°. The presence of such an absolute band gap implies that 2D graphite photonic crystal, which is much easier and more feasible to fabricate, can exhibit some properties of a three-dimensional (3D) photonic crystal.     

Two-dimensional hexagonal photonic crystal with new element geometry

A new type of the geometry of the elements of hexagonal-lattice photonic crystal shaped as the Wigner-Seitz cell is proposed. Dispersion curves of electromagnetic waves are calculated and the photonic crystal band gap characteristics are determined using the plane wave expansion technique. It is shown that the proposed geometry of the photonic crystal element leads to band gap widening. A simple method for fabricating prototypes using negative electron lithography is proposed.     

二维点缺陷正方光子晶体的微腔结构

通过平面波展开法对由Al₂O₃介质棒在空气背景介质中构成含有点缺陷的二维正方光子晶体微腔结构进行研究,计算得出缺陷态能带以及缺陷态模场分布。缺陷模对应的电磁波波长为470~476nm。对该微腔结构的品质因数的求解,得出缺陷态光谱曲线。在光谱曲线中,随着传输波长的增大,将产生几个峰值,并且在475nm处的波动最为明显,反映出在475nm附近的电磁波段在缺陷处的光强较大。进一步利用全矢量等效折射率法研究该结构缺陷模频率的稳定性,得出等效折射率的变化曲线。从等效折射率变化曲线可以看出,当传输波长达到475nm时,该结构已经达到稳定传输的区域。含缺陷模的二维光子晶体微腔结构在光子晶体发光二极管以及高阈值半导体激光器等方面有着重要的应用价值。     

Quantum photonic crystals—Quantytes

Optical properties and structural characteristics of quantum photonic crystals??quantytes??are investigated. Quantytes are crystalline structures with periodically arranged quantum dots of dielectrics, ferroelectrics, magnets, or metals. They feature so-called stop bands in which anomalous reflection of electromagnetic radiation from the photonic crystal surface is observed. It is found that quantytes are characterized by a negative refractive index and anomalous deceleration of electromagnetic waves in some spectral ranges. Possible uses of quantytes as devices for recording and reading of optical information, optical elements with negative refraction, selective mirrors, and narrow-band light filters are discussed.