Metallic graded photonic crystals for graded index lens

We have designed a flat graded index lens made from a metallic graded 2D photonic crystal. The gradient of index has been obtained by varying the filling factor of a flat slab of photonic crystal in the direction perpendicular to that of the propagation of the electromagnetic field. This gradient has been designed in such a way that the flat slab focuses a plane wave. With applications in the microwave range in view, we considered a photonic crystal which consists of copper strips.     

Negative refraction in a honeycomb-lattice photonic crystal

In this paper we theoretically investigate a photonic crystal with dielectric rods in a honeycomb lattice. Two left-handed frequency regions are found in the second and third photonic band by using the plane wave expansion method to analyze the photonic band structure and equifrequency contours. Subwavelength imaging by the photonic crystal flat lens are systematically studied by numerical simulations using the multiple scattering method. Different from the photonic crystals with noncircular dielectric rods in air, this structure is almost isotropic at the optimal frequency for superlensing. As a comparison, flat slab focusing is also demonstrated at other frequencies in the two left-handed regions.     

Near-field imaging of a square-lattice metallic photonic-crystal slab at the second band

Imaging properties of a two-dimensional photonic crystal slab lens are investigated through the finite-difference time-domain method. In this paper, we consider the photonic crystal slab consisting of a square lattice of square metallic rods immersed in a dielectric background. Through the analysis of the equifrequency-surface contours and the field patterns of a point source placed in the vicinity of the photonic crystal slab, we find that a good-quality image can form at the frequencies in the second TM-polarized photonic band. Comparing the images formed at different frequencies, we can clearly see that an excellent-quality image is formed by the mechanisms of simultaneous action of the self-collimation effect and the negative-refraction effect.     

Visual device for pressure measurement using photonic crystal slabs

We propose and demonstrate a visual, all-optical pressure-measuring device composed of a flexible membrane dilating toward a photonic crystal slab. Due to its transparency and capability to be miniaturized, it may be integrated on the inner side of an artificial lens and directly measure the eye's intraocular pressure. Using crossed polarization filters for the readout process, we obtain a contrast enhancement for the circular contact area of the membrane with the photonic crystal slab. We demonstrate that the visible circle increases as a function of pressure.     

光子晶体表面结构的改变对成像的影响

负折射率材料因为其奇异的特性成为广泛研究的对象,尤其是光子晶体平板的完美成像.硅材料以其良好的物理性质成为当今集成光学领域中应用最广的材料之一.本文以硅介质柱在空气中周期性排列构成六角结构的光子晶体平板为例,运用平面波展开法进行光子晶体能带计算并运用时域有限差分法模拟改变光子晶体平板成像并讨论表面结构对成像的影响.光子晶体平板等效折射率为-1时,通过改变上下侧最外层介质柱的半径或是侧向移动最外层介质柱发现:当光子晶体平板表面结构发生改变时光子晶体平板仍能成像但像点强度发生变化.当光子晶体平板表面结构的改变在一定范围时,所成像的位置发生改变且位置变化符合光子晶体成像经典的Veselago关系;当光子晶体表面结构的变化超过该范围时,所成像与物的相位发生反相同时像点位置发生"巨变",此时Veselago关系已不成立.数值模拟表明:光子晶体平板表面结构的改变可以有效地改变该光子晶体平板所成像的强度、位置和相位.     

Imaging enhancement of a photonic crystal superlens due to a surface mode with a specific dispersion

We study the imaging process for a photonic crystal slab lens with a surface defect by the finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) method. We demonstrate an odd surface mode with a specific dispersion curve in this system. The dispersion curve has an extreme point, which is corresponding to a slow light. If the working frequency is chosen at this extreme point the subwavelength resolution of image will be enhanced. Moreover, the subwavelength resolution of image is very sensitive to the position of this extreme point in the dispersion diagram. Longer interaction time and better field distribution may give a qualitative physical understanding for the enhancement of imaging quality.     

Diverse imaging of photonic crystal by the effects of channeling and partial band gap

Diverse imaging of point source by a two-dimensional photonic crystal slab with square lattice is studied by the finite-difference time-domain method. Given proper frequencies, there seems to be some special directions like channels guiding the light propagation inside the photonic crystal, along which some images will be created. It is suggest that except negative refraction there should be other mechanisms making point image by two dimensional photonic crystal slab.     

Graded photonic crystals for graded index lens

A graded index lens made from graded 2D photonic crystal has been designed by the means of the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method. The gradient of index has been obtained by varying the filling factor of a flat slab of photonic crystal in the direction perpendicular to that of the propagation of the electromagnetic field. This gradient has been designed in such a way that the flat slab focuses a plane wave. As only a few layers are necessary, graded photonic crystals show their ability to efficiently control the propagation of light and may apply to various photonic devices, from the microwave range to the optical domain.     

二维空气孔型光子晶体负折射平板透镜的减反层

提出并优化了由单排渐变介质波导构成的二维空气孔型光子晶体负折射平板透镜表面的减反层，改善了成像质量.二维时域有限差分模拟计算结果表明，采用减反层后，在入射角小于23°的范围内，在使得有效折射率n_eff=-1的工作频率处，光子晶体表面对从空气一侧入射的平面波的反射率可降低到1％以下. 关键词： 光子晶体 负折射 平板透镜 减反层     

基于空气孔的光子晶体亚波长成像的特性研究

负折射率材料因为其奇异的特性成为广泛研究的对象,尤其是光子晶体平板的完美成像.本文采用空气孔在硅介质中周期性排列构成六角结构的光子晶体结构,用平面波展开法及FDTD方法,研究了该光子晶体的亚波长成像能力还研究了入射波长以及温度漂移对该光子晶体平面亚波长成像的影响.     

A new anti-reflection surface structure for photonic crystal slab lens

An optimized surface modification structure for suppressing the reflections at the surfaces of photonic crystal slab lens is reported in this paper. The total reflection of the slab lens with proposed anti-reflection surface structure is reduced to below 0.3% for the incident angle of light less than 48 degrees. The image efficiency of the slab lens for the normal incident Gaussian beam with waist width equal to the wavelength is near 99%.     

Optical near-field microscopy of light focusing through a photonic crystal flat lens

We report here the direct observation by using a scanning near-field microscopy technique of the light focusing through a photonic crystal flat lens designed and fabricated to operate at optical frequencies. The lens is fabricated using a III-V semiconductor slab, and we directly visualize the propagation of the electromagnetic waves by using a scanning near-field optical microscope. We directly evidence spatially, as well as spectrally, the focusing operating regime of the lens. At last, in light of the experimental scanning near-field optical microscope pictures, we discuss the lens ability to focus light at a subwavelength scale.     

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     

Photonic band structure calculations for metal-clad two-dimensional photonic crystal slab

We study the effect of metallic cladding on the band structure of a two-dimensional photonic crystal slab. Band structures of a honeycomb patterned two-dimensional photonic crystal slab, with/without a metal-clad or a perfect conductor clad, are calculated using both the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method and the plane wave expansion (PWE) method. We explain the changes of the band structure due to cladding. We also show that the band structure of a metal-clad photonic crystal can be obtained effectively from the odd modes of the air bridge type dielectric photonic crystal slab, thicker than the metal-clad photonic crystal by a factor larger than two.     

Adiabatic coupling between conventional dielectric waveguides and waveguides with discrete translational symmetry

We study adiabatic transformation in optical waveguides with discrete translational symmetry. We calculate the reflection and transmission coefficient for a structure consisting of a slab waveguide that is adiabatically transformed into a photonic crystal waveguide and then back into a slab waveguide. The calculation yields high transmission over a wide frequency range of the photonic crystal waveguide band and indicates efficient coupling between the slab waveguide and the photonic crystal waveguide. Other applications of adiabatic mode transformation in photonic crystal waveguides and the coupled-resonator optical waveguides are also discussed.     

Imaging Properties of a Rectangular-Lattice Metallic Photonic-Crystal Slab

We report the imaging properties of a two-dimensional rectangular-lattice photonic crystal （PC） slab consisting of rectangular metallic rods immersed in a dielectric background. By simulating the electromagnetic wave propagation through such a PC slab with the finite-difference time-domain method, we find that a point source placed in the vicinity of the PC slab can form a good-quality image through the slab. The frequency region where a good-quality image is formed can be controlled by choosing the direction along which the PC slab surface normal is placed.     

Influence on the resolution of target detection with defective NR-PC flat lens incorporating Al,Cu by dynamic scanning scheme

Based on the defective NR-PC flat lens incorporating Al or Cu, the effects on the resolution for target detection and imaging are studied with dynamic scanning scheme. We use the finite-difference-time-domain method to do this research. Firstly, by using the NR-PC flat lens may improve the refocusing resolution by four times, if compared to the directly backscattered lightwave without using the NR-PC lens. Then, incorporating Al or Cu into the NR-PC flat lens, we find that the dope modes with very high quality factors will occur in the photonic forbidden band. Also the stimulated radiation is enhanced for the character of energy localization of defective photonic crystal. Further studies show that different kinds of metal and structures will result in different dopped modes in the photonic forbidden band, which will lead to the change of the corresponding resolution. Due to the displacement field redistribution, the photonic crystal containing metal ingredients may take on the typical qualities of all-directional reflection, and the resonant tunneling effect may effectively reduce the loss, which provides greatly improvement on the refocusing resolution when using the defective NR-PC flat lens. In conclusion, our investigation provided the basis for converting an idealized LHM lens into a physically realizable NR-PC flat lens. Meanwhile, by impregnating metallic defect into the NR-PC lens, a new method is found out for the improvement of the refocusing resolution, which further optimizes the performance of a detecting and imaging system.     

Negative Refraction and Near-Field Imaging of an Elliptical-Rod Photonic Crystal Slab in the Second Band

Negative refraction and imaging properties of the electromagnetic wave through a two-dimensional photonic crystal （PC） slab, which consists of a square lattice of elliptical dielectric rods immersed in the air background, is studied by the plane-wave expansion method and the finite-difference time-domain method. A point source placed in the vicinity of the PC slab can form a good-quality image spot through the PC slab for the incident frequencies within the second photonic band. The calculated result also shows that negative refraction occurs in this kind of PC slab.     

Negative refraction and imaging properties of circular photonic crystals

The electromagnetic wave propagation in a two-dimensional (2D) circular photonic crystal (CPC) is investigated. The CPC structure is composed of air holes in the dielectric background material. The finite element method is used to study the optical and propagating properties of the CPC slab. Numerical simulations show that negative refraction and near-field imaging can appear in a 2D CPC slab. We also find that the high-symmetry CPC slab possesses an optics axis along the vertical direction intersecting the symmetric center. As a result, the CPC slab can exhibit an excellent imaging performance when a source is placed on the optical axis.     

On the use of NR-PC flat lens for square target detection and imaging by lens-combined scanning scheme

In the paper, target detection and imaging from refraction photonic crystal (NR-PC) slab lens is studied by the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. Numerical simulation shows that, there is a transmission peak with a value far greater than unit, resulting from the mini-forbidden bands and resonance excitation at the resonance frequency of 0.3068 (a/λ). When a target is placed at the focus point (F₂) of the NR-PC lens, its image and great amplitude could be formed in the vicinity of the point source through the focusing of backscattered optical wave from the target. Further investigation demonstrates that the lens-combined scanning scheme provides higher refocusing resolution than lens-fixed and non-dynamic scanning scheme for square target detection and imaging.