Channel drop filter using photonic crystal ring resonators for CWDM communication systems

In this paper, a new optical channel drop filter (CDF) using photonic crystal ring resonators (PCRRs) is presented. Using the two-dimensional (2D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method in triangular lattice photonic crystal (PC) silicon rods, 100% forward dropping efficiency and a quality factor of more than 1000 can be achieved in third communication window while the resonant wavelength is 1550 nm. Through this novel (CDF), a multi-CDF operation with 100% drop efficiencies across all channels can be obtained. The proposed device could be used in future coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) communication systems.     

Improving the performance of a photonic crystal ring-resonator-based channel drop filter using particle swarm optimization method

The optical channel drop filters (CDFs) based on photonic crystals (PCs) are believed to be the essential components for compact photonic integrated circuits and WDM systems. One of the promising designs for a PC-CDF is based on the photonic crystal ring resonators (PCRRs). In this study, different parameters of a PCRR based CDF is optimized by using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) method in conjunction with the numerical method of two-dimensional (2D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) in a square lattice dielectric-rod 2D-PC. Hence a PC-CDF with ideal drop efficiency, large free spectral range (FSR) and acceptable quality factor will be proposed.     

Suppressing the effect of disorders using time-reversal symmetry breaking in magneto-optical photonic crystals: An illustration with a four-port circulator

In integrated optical systems, nonreciprocal elements are indispensable devices that eliminate multi-path reflection between components. To miniaturizing these devices down to a single-wavelength scale, we study nonreciprocal effects in point defects of magneto-optical photonic crystals. The nonreciprocal effect splits degenerate mode pairs and its strength is maximized by spatially matching the magnetic domain pattern with a modal cross product. The resultant eigenmodes are a pair of counter-rotating states that lack time-reversal symmetry. Based upon these eigenmodes, we propose a micro-cavity four-port circulator constructed by coupling a magneto-optical cavity with two waveguides, where each rotating state supports light tunneling along a different direction. In the presence of strong magneto-optical couplings, due to time-reversal symmetry breaking, the performance of the isolator is fundamentally protected from the effect of small structural fluctuations. Numerical calculations demonstrate a four-port circulator with a 26 dB isolation and a roughness tolerance on the order of 0.1a, where a is the lattice constant of the crystal.     

Comparison of photonic bandgaps of two-dimensional periodic and quasi-periodic photonic crystals with different relative permittivity dielectric

Photonic bandgaps (PBGs) of two-dimensional (2D) triangular-lattice and square-lattice and decagonal quasi-periodic photonic crystals (PCs) have been analyzed, with a given scatterer radius and dielectric relative permittivity changing from 1 to 30 within air-cylinders-in-dielectric and dielectric-cylinders-in-air constructions. The results have shown that 2D quasi-periodic PC is more likely to generate PBG and complete PBG than 2D periodic PC. For the given scatterer radius and two constructions, PBG widths of the two types of 2D PCs vary little, whereas the corresponding center frequencies decrease in smooth “hyperbola-like” curves with dielectric relative permittivity increasing monotonically. The present results will guide the design of PBG-type microstructure photonic devices.     

Modelling and design of complete photonic band gaps in two-dimensional photonic crystals

In this paper, we investigate the existence and variation of complete photonic band gap size with the introduction of asymmetry in the constituent dielectric rods with honeycomb lattices in two-dimensional photonic crystals (PhC) using the plane-wave expansion (PWE) method. Two examples, one consisting of elliptical rods and the other comprising of rectangular rods in honeycomb lattices are considered with a view to estimate the design parameters for maximizing the complete photonic band gap. Further, it has been shown that complete photonic band gap size changes with the variation in the orientation angle of the constituent dielectric rods.      

Control of photonic band gaps in one-dimensional photonic crystals

The photonic band gaps in one-dimensional photonic crystals (PCs) are theoretically investigated. A new method to broaden the photonic band gaps is introduced. Based on the similar method, a kind of photonic crystals is constructed to generate photonic band gaps with proportioned central frequencies. This technology can be used for designing nonlinear PCs for harmonic generation.     

Graphene based photonic crystal optical filter: Design and exploration of the tunability

Optical characteristics of two new graphene based photonic crystals are studied in detail. A structure containing alternating layers of graphene and SiO₂ slabs is considered as the ideal crystal. The dependency of the photonic band gaps (PBGs) to the dielectric layer thickness and the period number is explored at first step. Potential of the proposed crystal to be used as an optical filter is then investigated. Adding a nonlinear electro-optic polymer as a defect layer, the alterations of the optical features are inspected. Results show that the defect layer insertion causes a resonant mode inside the PBGs. However, the location of the defect layer inside the crystal is very effective on both the frequency and width of the resonant mode. Tunability of the optical features is probed by taking into account of the dependencies to the wave incident angle, graphene chemical potential and the applied external voltage to the defect layer.     

Design of integrated optical circulator based on photonic crystals

Photonic crystals containing defects produce enhanced Faraday rotation. They have opened up the possibility of fabricating very compact magneto-optics structures. In this work, we have designed a two-dimensional photonic crystal waveguide for use in optical packaging and integrated optical circuits. For design purposes, a temporal coupled mode theory was utilized at the first step. It examined the coupling between cavity and optical ports. After acquiring a general solution, it would be applied to specific problem in hand. Then, optical characteristics of photonic crystal were investigated to design the practical parts such as cavity and waveguides which eventually a triangular crystal lattice of air holes in Bi:YIG (BIG) was considered to be the best candidate. Finally, the results of analytical investigations were evaluated using OptiFDTD software and then were confirmed.     

Silicon-based two-dimensional photonic crystal waveguides

A review of the properties of silicon-based two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystals is given, essentially infinite 2D photonic crystals made from macroporous silicon and photonic crystal slabs based on silicon-on-insulator basis. We discuss the bulk photonic crystal properties with particular attention to the light cone and its impact on the band structure. The application for wave guiding is discussed for both material systems, and compared to classical waveguides based on index-guiding. Losses of resonant waveguide modes above the light line are discussed in detail.     

On transmittance and localization of the electromagnetic wave in two-dimensional graphene-based photonic crystals

Two-dimensional graphene-based photonic crystal (GPC) formed by a periodic array of the homogeneous dielectric cylinders etched in the alternating graphene and dielectric layers and its inverse counterpart are considered. The transmittance of the photonic crystal is obtained. The waveguide due to the localization of the electromagnetic wave on the lattice defect that breaks the translational symmetry of the GPC of two different topologies is studied. The different topologies of GPC are characterized by different photonic band structures with different widths of photonic band gaps (PBG) and provide different frequencies for the localized electromagnetic wave due to the defect. The frequencies of the localized mode for both type of the GPC, located inside the lowest PBG, are in the range of THz or tens of THz depending on the topology of the GPC. It is shown that the photonic band gap always can be tuned by changing the chemical potential of graphene to provide formation of the localized photonic mode due to the defect. The technological advantages of the GPC, as well as the opportunity to tune the PBG and the frequency of the localized electromagnetic wave in the terahertz region of spectrum for the GPC are discussed.     

An efficient approach toward guided mode extraction in two-dimensional photonic crystals

A rigorous, fast and efficient method is proposed for analytical extraction of guided defect modes in two-dimensional photonic crystals, where each Bloch spatial harmonic is expanded in terms of Hermite-Gauss functions. This expansion, after being substituted in Maxwell’s equations, is analytically projected in the Hilbert space spanned by the Hermite-Gauss basis functions, and then a new set of first order coupled linear ordinary differential equations with non-constant coefficients is obtained. This set of equations is solved by employing successive differential transfer matrices, whereupon defect modes, i.e. the guided modes propagating in the straight line-defect photonic crystal waveguides and coupled resonator optical waveguides, are analytically derived. In this fashion, the governing differential equations are converted into an algebraic and easy to solve matrix eigenvalue problem. Thanks to the analyticity of the proposed approach, the eigenmodes of these structures can be extracted very quickly. The validity of the obtained results is however justified by comparing them to those derived by using the standard finite-difference time-domain method.     

Extremely low optical transmittance in the stopbands of photonic crystals

We demonstrate extremely low transmittance characteristics of photonic crystals (PhCs) with a finite thickness in specific photonic bandgaps (PBGs) through numerical simulation, and clarify its origin. Some of the PhCs support decaying Bloch eigenmodes, whose propagation constant (real part of the Bloch wavenumber) as well as their decay constant (imaginary part) changes with frequency inside the bandgap. Such a class of modes can interfere destructively at the exit end of the crystal depending on their round-trip phase change, which creates comb-like valleys in their transmission spectra.     

Large range of omni-directional reflection in 1D photonic crystal heterostructures

A simple design of one-dimensional omni-directional reflector based on photonic crystal heterostructures structure has been proposed. The proposed structure consists of a periodic array of alternate layers of SiO₂ and Te as the materials of low and high refractive indices, respectively. The structure considered here has three stacks of periodic structures having five layers each. The lattice period of successive stack is increased by a certain multiple (say gradual constant, δ) of the lattice period of the just preceding stack. For numerical computation, the method of transfer matrix method (TMM) has been employed. It is found that such a structure has wider reflection bands in comparison to a conventional dielectric PC structure and the width of the omni-directional reflection (ODR) bands can be enlarged by increasing the value of the gradual constant δ.     

T-shaped channel drop filter based on photonic crystal ring resonator

Photonic crystal ring resonators are promising candidates for realizing all optical filters with acceptable transmission efficiency and quality factor values. In this paper, by putting a12-fold quasi crystal at the middle of on 7 × 7 square cavity we created a ring resonator structure and designed a T-shaped channel drop filter. The drop wavelength of our filter is at 1551 nm, with transmission efficiency and quality factor equal to 90% and 387. Our structure is composed of dielectric rods immersed in air. Because in this kind of structures the dominant band gap is in TM mode, all of our simulations have been done in TM mode. The total footprint of our filter is 242.4 μm², which makes it suitable for all optical integrated circuits.     

a-Si:H based two-dimensional photonic crystals

We describe the fabrication processes of silicon-based two-dimensional photonic crystals (2D-PCs) with a photonic band gap in the near-IR range. The procedures involve electron beam lithography followed by an anisotropic etching step of hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin films deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Micrometric and submicrometric arrays of cylindrical holes are transferred using a poly-methylmethacrylate resist layer as a mask. A careful comparison between standard parallel plate reactive ion etching and inductively coupled plasma etching techniques is performed, aimed at obtaining periodic structures with high aspect ratio and good profile sharpness.     

A novel polarization channel drop filter based on two-dimensional photonic crystals

<正>A novel polarization channel drop filter(PCDF) based on two-dimensional(2D) photonic crystals(PCs) is presented.It consists of two line defect waveguides and two point defect micro-cavities.In the line-defect waveguides,the transverse-electric(TE) and transverse-magnetic(TM) polarization lights are guided using photonic band-gap and total internal reflection effect,respectively.The light at the resonant frequency for TE polarization can be transferred from one waveguide to the other using the proposed system.Compared with the existing four-port PCDF based on PCs,the three-port structure can realize a multi-channel wavelength system of PCDF more easily and can be an essential device in future polarization wavelength division multiplexing(PWDM) systems.     

Band gap extension in honeycomb lattice two-dimensional plasma photonic crystals in the presence of dissipation

We investigate two types of honeycomb lattice two-dimensional plasma photonic crystals that possess large photonic band gaps in the presence of dissipation. We obtain a clear insight into the band structures and find imaginary parts of the eigenvalue band structure at the symmetry points display discontinuous behaviour when the filling factor of plasma in type-1 structure is low. Further more, we show how the photonic band gaps are affected by the normalized plasma frequency, radius of cylinder, dielectric constant and collision frequency. Our results demonstrate the band gap extension by increasing normalized plasma frequency in both type structures and radius of plasma cylinders in type-1 structure. The width of band gaps could also be enlarged by decreasing dielectric cylinder's radius. The bands shift toward lower frequencies when relative dielectric constant increases in both two types. These results may provide theoretical instructions to design new optoelectronic devices.     

Experimental investigation of photonic band gap in one-dimensional photonic crystals with metamaterials

Composite right/left-handed transmission lines with lumped element series capacitors and shunt inductors are used to experimentally realize the one-dimensional photonic crystals composed of single-negative metamaterials. The simulated and experimental results show that a special photonic band gap corresponding to zero-effective-phase (zero-_φeff${\phi }_{\mathrm{eff}}$) may appear in the microwave regime. In contrast to the Bragg gap, by changing the length ratio of the two component materials, the width and depth of the zero-_φeff${\phi }_{\mathrm{eff}}$ gap can be conveniently adjusted while keeping the center frequency constant. Furthermore, the zero-_φeff${\phi }_{\mathrm{eff}}$ gap vanishes when both the phase-matching and impedance-matching conditions are satisfied simultaneously. These transmission line structures provide a good way for realizing microwave devices based on the zero-_φeff${\phi }_{\mathrm{eff}}$ gap.     

Terahertz modulator using photonic crystals

In this letter, a novel terahertz wave modulator based on a silicon oxide/polyaniline photonic crystal is proposed. The modulation mechanism of the novel modulator is based on a dynamic shift of the photonic band gap by the applied external electric field. Its performances were investigated with the finite-difference time-domain method. The novel modulator has 3 dB modulation bandwidth of 10 kHz, a size as small as 20 mm and its extinction ratio larger than 30 dB at the frequency of 1 THz.     

Decay of a quantum dot in two-dimensional metallic photonic crystals

In this paper we have developed a theory for the decay of a quantum dot doped in a two-dimensional metallic photonic crystal consisting of two different metallic pillars in an air background medium. This crystal structure forms a full two-dimensional photonic band gap when the appropriate pillar sizes are chosen. The advantage of using two metals is that one can easily control the density of states and optical properties of these photonic crystals by changing the plasma energies of two metals rather than one. Using the Schrödinger equation method and the photonic density of states, we calculated the linewidth broadening and the spectral function of radiation due to spontaneous emission for two-level quantum dots doped in the system. Our results show that by changing the plasma energies one can control spontaneous emission of quantum dots doped in the metallic photonic crystal.