Optical defect modes in chiral liquid crystals

An analytic approach to the theory of optical defect modes in chiral liquid crystals (CLCs) is developed. The analytic study is facilitated by the choice of the problem parameters. Specifically, an isotropic layer (with the dielectric susceptibility equal to the average CLC dielectric susceptibility) sandwiched between two CLC layers is studied. The chosen model allows eliminating the polarization mixing and reducing the corresponding equations to the equations for light of diffracting polarization only. The dispersion equation relating the defect mode (DM) frequency to the isotropic layer thickness and an analytic expression for the field distribution in the DM structure are obtained and the corresponding dependences are plotted for some values of the DM structure parameters. Analytic expressions for the transmission and reflection coefficients of the DM structure (CLC-defect layer-CLC) are presented and analyzed for nonabsorbing, absorbing, and amplifying CLCs. The anomalously strong light absorption effect at the DM frequency is revealed. The limit case of infinitely thick CLC layers is considered in detail. It is shown that for distributed feedback lasing in a defect structure, adjusting the lasing frequency to the DM frequency results in a significant decrease in the lasing threshold. The DM dispersion equations are solved numerically for typical values of the relevant parameters. Our approach helps clarify the physics of the optical DMs in CLCs and completely agrees with the corresponding results of the previous numerical investigations.     

Localized modes in optics of photonic liquid crystals with local anisotropy of absorption

The localized optical modes in spiral photonic liquid crystals are theoretically studied for the certainty at the example of chiral liquid crystals (CLCs) for the case of CLC with an anisotropic local absorption. The model adopted here (absence of dielectric interfaces in the structures under investigation) makes it possible to get rid of mixing of polarizations on the surfaces of the CLC layer and of the defect structure and to reduce the corresponding equations to only the equations for light with polarization diffracting in the CLC. The dispersion equations determining connection of the edge mode (EM) and defect mode (DM) frequencies with the CLC layer parameters (anisotropy of local absorption, CLC order parameter) and other parameters of the DMS are obtained. Analytic expressions for the transmission and reflection coefficients of CLC layer and DMS for the case of CLC with an anisotropic local absorption are presented and analyzed. It is shown that the CLC layers with locally anisotropic absorption reduce the EM and DM lifetimes (and increase the lasing threshold) in the way different from the case of CLC with an isotropic local absorption. Due to the Borrmann effect revealing of which is different at the opposite stop-band edges in the case of CLC layers with an anisotropic local absorption the EM life-times for the EM frequencies at the opposite stop-bands edges may be significantly different. The options of experimental observations of the theoretically revealed phenomena are briefly discussed.     

Defect modes of chiral photonic crystals with an isotropic defect

Specific features of the defect modes of cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) with an isotropic defect, as well as their photonic density of states, Q factor, and emission, have been investigated. The effect of the thicknesses of the defect layer and the system as a whole, the position of the defect layer, and the dielectric boundaries on the features of the defect modes have been analyzed. It is shown that when the CLC layer is thin the density of states and emission intensity are maximum for the defect mode, whereas when the CLC layer is thick, these peaks are observed at the edges of the photonic band gap. Similarly, when the gain is low, the density of states and emission intensity are maximum for the defect mode, whereas at high gains these peaks are also observed at the edges of the photonic band gap. The possibilities of low-threshold lasing and obtaining high-Q microcavities have been investigated.     

Optical edge modes in photonic liquid crystals

An analytic theory of localized edge modes in chiral liquid crystals (CLCs) is developed. Equations determining the edge-mode frequencies are found and analytically solved in the case of low decaying modes and are solved numerically for the problem parameter values typical for the experiment. The discrete edge-mode frequencies specified by the integer numbers n are located close to the stop-band edge frequencies outside the band. The expressions for the spatial distribution of the n’s mode field in a CLC layer and for its temporal decay are presented. The possibilities of a reduction of the lasing threshold due to the anomalously strong absorption effect are theoretically investigated for a distributed feedback lasing in CLCs. It is shown that a minimum of the threshold pumping wave intensity may be reached, generally, for the pumping wave propagating at an angle to the helical axis. However, for lucky values of the related parameters, it may be reached for the pumping wave propagating along the helical axis. The lowest threshold pumping wave intensity occurs for the lasing at the first low-frequency band-edge lasing mode and the pumping wave propagating at an angle to the spiral axis corresponding to the first angular absorption maximum of the anomalously strong absorption effect at the high-frequency edge of the stop band. The study is performed in the case of the average dielectric constant of the liquid crystal coinciding with the dielectric constant of the ambient material. Numerical calculations of the distributed feedback lasing threshold at the edge-mode frequencies are performed for typical values of the relevant parameters.     

Specific features of the emission of chiral photonic crystals with an anisotropic defect: I. Thickness effects

The specific features of defect modes of chiral photonic crystals with an anisotropic defect have been investigated. Peculiarities of the spectra of polarization observables of the system under consideration are analyzed at different thicknesses of the defect layer. It is shown that single refraction occurs in a defect mode, even though the system is anisotropic and inhomogeneous. We also investigated the specific features of the spectra of the photon density of states, light intensity at the defect center, and the Q factor of defect modes at different thicknesses of the defect layer and chiral photonic crystals. It is shown that the lasing wavelength of chiral photonic crystals with an anisotropic defect enriched in laser dyes (resonant atoms) can be controlled in a different way: by varying the defect layer thickness. It is shown that this system can operate as a narrow-band filter (mirror) with a controlled frequency width and location of the total transmission (reflection) range on the frequency scale.     

Defect mode suppression in a photonic crystal with a magnetic defect in the ferromagnetic resonance region

The specific features of the transmission and reflection spectra of a one-dimensional photonic crystal structure with a magnetically active layer placed between dielectric Bragg mirrors have been investigated. If the magnetic resonance frequency coincides with the frequency of the defect mode in one of the photonic bands, the defect mode in the photonic crystal can be completely suppressed, which makes it possible to effectively control the spectrum of such a structure by an external magnetic field.     

Dispersion relations for optical waves in amplifying periodic structures

The characteristics of optical waves in amplifying dielectric periodic nanostructures are studied. The formula for the dependence of the wave number on frequency, which comprises a photonic band gap and is valid for structures possessing a complex dielectric function, is obtained. It is shown that the gain is anomalously high at frequencies residing in the photonic band gap.     

Optical transmission properties of an anisotropic defect cavity in one-dimensional photonic crystal

We investigate theoretically the possibility to control the optical transmission in the visible and infrared regions by a defective one dimensional photonic crystal formed by a combination of a finite isotropic superlattice and an anisotropic defect layer. The Green's function approach has been used to derive the reflection and the transmission coefficients, as well as the densities of states of the optical modes. We evaluate the delay times of the localized modes and we compare their behavior with the total densities of states. We show that the birefringence of an anisotropic defect layer has a significant impact on the behavior of the optical modes in the electromagnetic forbidden bands of the structure. The amplitudes of the defect modes in the transmission and the delay time spectrum, depend strongly on the position of the cavity layer within the photonic crystal. The anisotropic defect layer induces transmission zeros in one of the two components of the transmission as a consequence of a destructive interference of the two polarized waves within this layer, giving rise to negative delay times for some wavelengths in the visible and infrared light ranges. This property is a typical characteristic of the anisotropic photonic layer and is without analogue in their counterpart isotropic defect layers. This structure offers several possibilities for controlling the frequencies, transmitted intensities and the delay times of the optical modes in the visible and infrared regions. It can be a good candidate for realizing high-precision optical filters.     

横磁模式下二维非磁化等离子体光子晶体的线缺陷特性研究

采用等离子体的分段线性电流密度卷积时域有限差分算法研究了横磁波入射时具有单一线缺陷的二维非磁化等离子体光子晶体的缺陷模特性. 从频域角度分析得到微分高斯脉冲的透射系数,并讨论该光子晶体的晶格常数、介质圆柱半径、周期常数、缺陷层参数和等离子体参数对缺陷模特性的影响. 结果表明,改变周期常数、缺陷层位置和等离子体碰撞频率不会改变缺陷模的频率,改变缺陷层介质圆柱的相对介电常数、半径和缺陷层到介质层的中心距离可以在不改变禁带宽度的前提下实现对缺陷模的调节,改变晶格常数、介质圆柱半径和等离子体频率能同时实现对禁带宽度和缺陷模的调节. 关键词： 等离子体 光子晶体 缺陷模 时域有限差分算法     

Near-infrared tunable narrow filter properties in a 1D photonic crystal containing semiconductor metamaterial photonic quantum-well defect

The near-infrared (NIR) narrow filter properties in the transmission spectra of a one-dimensional photonic crystal doped with semiconductor metamaterial photonic quantum-well defect (PQW) were theoretically studied. The behavior of the defect mode as a function of the stack number of the PQW defect structure, the filling factor of semiconductor metamaterial layer, the polarization and the angle of incidence were investigated for Al-doped ZnO (AZO) and ZnO as the semiconductor metamaterial layer. It is found that the frequency of the defect mode can be tuned by variation of the period of the defect structure, polarization, incidence angle, and the filling factor of the semiconductor metamaterial layer. It is also shown that the number of the defect mode is independent of the period of the PQW defect structure and is in sharp contrast with the case where a common dielectric or metamaterial defect are used. The results also show that for both polarizations the defect mode is red-shifted as the number of the defect period and filling factor increase. An opposite trend is observed as the angle of incidence increases. The proposed structure could provide useful information for designing new types of tuneable narrowband filters at NIR region.     

Analysis of defect mode in a dielectric photonic crystal containing ITO defect

In this work, based on the use of ITO as a defect, we study the infrared defect mode in defective photonic crystal made of SiO₂ and InP. Due to the dispersion in the dielectric function of ITO, it is found that the defect mode is sensitive to the ITO thickness. The defect frequency is shown to be blue-shifted as the thickness of ITO decreases. In the angular dependence of defect mode, it is seen that the defect frequency is also blue-shifted when the angle of incidence increases for both TE and TM polarizations. However, the shifting feature is appeared to be nearly polarization-independent. The shift in the defect frequency enables us to employ ITO as a tunable agent in order to design a tunable photonic crystal filter in the infrared region.     

Materials with on-demand refractive indices in the terahertz range

We demonstrate the possibility to create materials with chosen refractive indices and a strong birefringence in the terahertz range by etching of patterns with appropriate filling factors in a dielectric substrate. We show that by using deep inductive plasma etching of silicon wafers, it is possible to achieve a birefringence as high as 1.2 in an 80 microm thick layer. The resulting stacks were used as building blocks for a photonic crystal displaying sharp defect mode peaks in transmittance.     

Defect mode emission of a dye doped cholesteric polymer network

We have observed enhanced fluorescence and laser emission due to a photonic defect mode in a dye doped cholesteric polymer network. The defect is caused by a phase jump of the cholesteric helix at the interface of two stacked layers of a cholesteric polymer film. Fluorescence spectra show an additional resonant mode inside the photonic stop band. Pulsed excitation gives rise to laser emission of the defect mode, with an exceptionally low lasing threshold. The defect mode emission has a circular polarization whose sense of rotation is opposite to that of the cholesteric helix.     

向列相液晶染料可调谐激光器的研究

对向列相液晶染料的可调谐激光器进行了光学特性研究. 以650 nm为中 心波长设计了SiO₂和TiO₂多层膜的一维光子晶体, 以激光染料与向列相液晶的混合物作为增益介质层, 制备了波长可调谐激光器.用Nd: YAG倍频脉冲激光器输出的532 nm激光抽运所制备的激光器样品得出如下光学特性: 激光发射波长随温度调谐范围为605.5---639.8 nm, 达到34.3 nm, 随电压调谐范围为634.5---619.5 nm, 达到15 nm. 发射激光每脉冲的阈值能量为12.3 μJ, 激光线宽小于1 nm.     

The peculiarities of radiation of chiral photonic crystals with isotropic defect layer

The peculiarities of defect modes and reflection spectra of chiral photonic crystals (CPC) with an isotropic defect for various thicknesses of the defect layer were investigated. The peculiarities of the spectra of photonic density of the state (DOS) and those of the intensity at the center of the defect were investigated, too. It was shown that there is one more possibility of tuning of laser emission - by the change of the defect layer thickness - in CPCs doped with laser dyes (with resonance atoms) and with an isotropic defect. It was shown that the given system can work as a tunable narrow-band filter (or mirror) with tunable wavelength width and tunable location of frequency of the complete transmittance (reflection) band. The radiation peculiarities of these systems were discussed. It was shown that in certain conditions an anomalous strong radiation can be observed for defect modes, and low-threshold laser generation is possible, again, for these modes. It was also shown that radiation suppression is possible for defect modes. The peculiarities of group velocity, group velocity dispersion and non-reciprocity were studied.     

带缺陷二维光子晶体的透射谱研究

在一维线缺陷的研究基础上进一步应用转移矩阵方法数值研究带其它缺陷的二维正方晶格圆柱光子晶体的透射谱,缺陷的引入使得原来不透电磁波的禁带中,出现了缺陷模,即某一波长的电磁波可以透过,计算结果表明禁带位置、宽度,缺陷模的位置与透过率随着缺陷的种类、介质、程度有关,特别是都受到波源的入射角调制.     

一维光子晶体激光器中模场的空间分布及其对阈值的影响

采用有限时域差分（FDTD）法和传输矩阵法（TMM）计算了一维光子晶体微腔中模式的阈值和模场的空间分布,并用局域化长度和模面积描述了其空间分布特性.着重研究了模场的空间分布对阈值特性的影响.模拟结果显示,激光器的阈值依赖于模式的空间分布,局域化长度和模面积最小的模式具有最低阈值.通过调节包括缺陷宽度、光学厚度比、折射率比等介质参量,可以有效地调节模式的局域化长度和模面积,从而降低激光器的阈值.     

具有复介电常量二维光子晶体的特性研究

采用平面波展开法,通过数值模拟研究了具有复介电常量的二维光子晶体的能带结构和光传输特性,重点讨论介电常量的虚部为负值情形时对传输特性的影响。研究表明由于光子带隙的存在有效地抑制了频率位于带隙内光的自发辐射。当在介质中掺入具有增益特性的杂质时,即使两种介质的介电常量相差很小,在靠近光子带隙边缘,出现了较强的受激辐射放大。通常在带隙的边缘处,光子晶体的群速度较小,而激光阈值正比于群速度的平方,当群速度很小时,激光阈值将大大减小。这为实现零阈值激光器提供了基础,也为制作光放大微器件提供了一个有益的理论参考。     

用一维光子带隙结构增强硫化镉双光子吸收研究

用真空镀膜方法制备了含有单个CdS缺陷层的具有不同周期和结构参量的TiO2／SiO2一维光子晶体。用抽运一探测技术研究了CdS缺陷层的双光子吸收（TPA）现象。实验结果表明：一维光子晶体中CdS缺陷层的双光子吸收显著增强。不同周期和结构参量的一维光子晶体中CdS缺陷层的双光子吸收系数不同。双光子吸收的增强来源于由光局域化导致的缺陷层的电场强度的增加。缺陷层电场强度与一维光子晶体的结构有关,如周期,光子带隙的位置与宽度及缺陷模式等因素都会影响缺陷层电场强度。采用四分之一波长的高低折射率介质层和与入射波长匹配的缺陷模可以得到最大的缺陷层电场强度。     

Low threshold laser cavities of two-dimensional photonic crystal line defect mode

Two-dimensional (2D) rod-type photonic crystal (PC) line defect waveguide (LDW) laser cavities based on three types of line defect modes with zero group velocity are studied by using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. These laser cavities have high quality (Q) factor, better localization of light, non-uniform gain distribution and small overlap between gain medium and light field. Therefore, they have the advantages over conventional and air-bridge PC cavities with uniform gain, such as low threshold, single mode lasing and effectively avoiding thermal effect. From their comparison, one can find the mode at middle Brillouin zones (BZ) is the best one to be used as lasing mode. Its dynamic lasing process and lasing features are demonstrated by the numerical experiment where the FDTD method coupling Maxwell's equations with the rate equations of electronic population is used.