Diffraction mechanism of specular reflection of light from photonic crystals

The spectra of specular reflection and diffraction of light for a resonant two-dimensional photonic crystal consisting of semiconductor cylinders embedded in a dielectric matrix, as well as the exciton-polariton band structure of this crystal, are studied theoretically. It is shown that specular reflection of light from a photonic crystal can be considerably enhanced by diffraction in the photonic crystal and reflection from its inner boundary with vacuum.