Tunable phase compensator based on one-dimensional photonic crystals with single-negative materials

The reflection phase difference between TE and TM waves in one-dimensional photonic crystals composed of single-negative (SNG) (permittivity- or permeability-negative) materials is investigated by transfer matrix method. Within two omni-directional gaps the reflection phase difference changes smoothly and increases with the increasing of the incident angle. In the center of the second omni-directional gap the reflection phase difference remains almost unchanged in a broad frequency band. Especially, at both the edges of the second omni-directional gap the reflection phase difference keeps zero in spite of the change of incident angle. Based on these properties, a continuously tunable phase compensators and an omni-directionally synchronous reflector for TE and TM waves can be designed. The working frequencies for the phase compensators and synchronous reflector are tunable.