Specific features of polarization anisotropy in optical reflection and transmission of colloidal photonic crystals

This paper reports on the measurements (in linearly polarized light) of the transmission and reflection spectra of colloidal photonic crystals with three-dimensional and one-two-dimensional photonic band structure, i.e., opal films and Langmuir-Blodgett crystals with a refractive index contrast of ∼1.5: 1.0. It has been shown that the polarization anisotropy is enhanced considerably in the diffraction resonance range both in transmitted and reflected light, and that the anisotropy in the resonance range can be as high as 99%. The interaction of photonic crystal eigenmodes has been found to affect the polarization anisotropy. The assumption has been made that the coincidence of the maxima in polarization anisotropy of the resonant and nonresonant light reflection in colloidal crystals originates from the disorder in their lattices. The generality of the results obtained is confirmed by the fact that the polarization anisotropy manifests itself in the same way in colloidal crystals with different lattice symmetries.     

Reflection,Transmission, and Scattering of Light by Photonic Crystals Based on Opal Films

The spectroscopic methods with angular resolution are used to perform an integrated experimental study of optical phenomena (Bragg's reflection, transmission, and scattering of light) in photonic crystals based on opal films. The anisotropy of optical properties and the influence of the photonic band structure on optical spectra of specimens are detected in all examined cases.     

Photonic band structure of 3D ordered silica matrices

The symmetry and orientation of a photonic lattice of 3D ordered porous silica matrices (synthetic opals) are determined by analysis of transmission electron micrographs. By optical transmission measurements the photonic band edges are mapped out at pointsLandKof the Brillouin zone. It is shown that modulating the refractive index of opal pores by filling them with liquids results in variation of the light attenuation length within the forbidden gap. To increase the refractive index contrast of the lattice, the pores of opals were filled with CdS. A dramatic decrease in attenuation length is observed for opal/CdS. The parameters of a photonic lattice with a ‘pseudo-gap’, that is, with a prominent depletion of the photonic density of states, are estimated.     

Polarization anisotropy of optical transmission in opals and Langmuir-Blodgett crystals

The transmission spectra of thin-film colloidal photonic crystals with three-dimensional and one-dimensional-two-dimensional photonic energy band structures, i.e., opals and Langmuir-Blodgett crystals with a refractive index contrast of ∼1.5: 1.0, have been measured in linearly polarized light. It has been demonstrated that the polarization anisotropy in the light transmitted through the crystal is uniquely related to the diffraction resonance and that the degree of polarization can exceed 90%. A higher degree of polarization is provided by lattices that are characterized by a smaller attenuation of light polarized in the plane of incidence. It has been revealed that the diffraction resonances from the crystal planes for which the dispersions are in anticrossing with the dispersion of the growth planes acquire the same anisotropy. The general character of the results obtained has been confirmed by the fact that the polarization anisotropy identically manifests itself in colloidal crystals that have different symmetries and lattice orderings.     

Spectroscopy of the photonic stop band in synthetic opals

The photonic band gap of opals has been studied experimentally from their optical transmission spectra as a function of the incident beam orientation in the opal crystal lattice. The measurements were carried out for all high-symmetry points on the surface of the Brillouin zone of an fcc lattice. The experimental dependence of the energy position of the photonic band gap on the light wave vector direction is well described by the set of theoretical relations developed for the stop bands originating from the Bragg diffraction of light on {111}-type planes of the twinned fcc lattice of synthetic opals.     

Light diffraction features in an ordered monolayer of spheres

The structure and optical diffraction properties of monolayers of monodisperse spheres crystallized on transparent dielectric substrates are studied. Two types of diffraction phenomena are considered: surface light diffraction on the lattice of spheres and waveguide resonances in the monolayer plane. For experimental study of these phenomena, optical retroreflection and transmission spectra are measured as functions of the light incidence angle and azimuthal orientation of the incidence plane. The monolayer structures determined by scanning electron microscopy and light diffraction methods are in quantitative agreement. It is concluded that one-dimensional Fraunhofer diffraction is applicable to describe surface diffraction in the hexagonal lattice of spheres. In the case of oblique light incidence, anisotropy of diffraction and transmission spectra depending on the light incidence plane orientation with respect to the sphere lattice and linear polarization of incident light is detected. Waveguide resonances of the planar two-dimensional photonic crystal are approximated within the light diffraction model in the “empty” hexagonal lattice. The best approximation of the waveguide resonance dispersion is achieved using the effective refractive index, depending on the wavelength. Surface diffraction suppression by waveguide resonances of the photonic crystal is demonstrated. Surface diffraction orders are identified as diffraction at singular points of the Brillouin zone of the planar twodimensional photonic crystal.     

Multiple Bragg diffraction in low-contrast photonic crystals based on synthetic opals

The phenomenon of multiple Bragg diffraction in low-contrast photonic crystals based on synthetic opals has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. The transmission and reflection spectra of opal films near the K point of the Brillouin zone of the face-centered cubic lattice in s-polarization exhibit the effect of anticrossing of dispersion curves corresponding to the (111) and ([`1]11)(\bar 111) photonic stop bands. The effect of quasi-Brewster suppression of stop bands is clearly pronounced in p-polarization. The experimental data are analyzed using the calculation of the band structure of opal with the inclusion of the polarization of incident light.     

Diffractionless optical networking in an inverse opal photonic band gap micro-chip

We present a design for a photonic crystal (PC) all-optical micro-chip based on a three-dimensional (3D) inverse opal heterostructure intercalated with a two-dimensional (2D) triangular lattice photonic crystal slab. Within the 2D micro-chip layer, we demonstrate single-mode (diffractionless) waveguiding of light in air, throughout a bandwidth of more than 70 nm near 1.55 μm. This suggests that inverse opal photonic band gap (PBG) materials can facilitate on-chip optical networking functions over the telecommunication frequency band used in current-day optical fibers.     

Propagation of polarized light in opals: Amplitude and phase anisotropy

The interaction of linearly polarized light with photonic crystals based on bulk and thin-film synthetic opals is studied. Experimental transmission spectra and spectra showing the polarization state of light transmitted through opals are discussed. A change in polarization is found for waves experiencing Bragg diffraction from systems of crystallographic planes of the opal lattice. It is shown that the polarization plane of the incident linearly polarized wave at the exit from photonic crystals can be considerably rotated. In addition, incident linearly polarized light can be transformed to elliptically polarized light with the turned major axis of the polarization ellipse. Analysis of polarization states of transmitted light by using the transfer-matrix theory and homogenization theory revealed good agreement between calculated and experimental spectra.     

Inverted yablonovite fabricated by the direct laser writing method and its photonic structure

Three-dimensional photonic crystals with an inverted yablonovite structure have been fabricated by the direct laser writing method based on the two-photon polymerization of a photosensitive material. The correspondence of the structure of the samples to the inverted yablonovite lattice has been confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The photonic band structure of inverted yablonovite, as well as a number of related photonic materials with an fcc lattice, has been calculated. It has been found that the photonic properties of opal and yablonovite are opposite: the complete photonic band gap appears in inverted opal and direct yablonovite and is absent in direct opal and inverted yablonovite. A method for the fabrication of ideal three-dimensional photonic structures having the complete photonic band gap in the infrared and visible spectral ranges has been discussed.     

Hypersonic modulation of light in three-dimensional photonic and phononic band-gap materials

The elastic coupling between the a-SiO2 spheres composing opal films brings forth three-dimensional periodic structures which besides a photonic stop band are predicted to also exhibit complete phononic band gaps. The influence of elastic crystal vibrations on the photonic band structure has been studied by injection of coherent hypersonic wave packets generated in a metal transducer by subpicosecond laser pulses. These studies show that light with energies close to the photonic band gap can be efficiently modulated by hypersonic waves.     

Variation of spontaneous emission in the opal stop-band with an enhanced refractive-index contrast

Photoluminescence spectra of an opal with an anatase layer grown on its inner surface were studied. Measurements were carried out with a high angular resolution at various pump power levels and detection angles. The intensity and probability of emission were found to acquire an anisotropy corresponding to the frequency and angular dispersion of the first opal photonic band gap. As the pump power increases, the suppression of spontaneous emission in the photonic band gap is shown to be replaced by its amplification. The amplification of spontaneous emission is tentatively assigned to the existence of localized defect optical modes in the photonic band gap.     

Raman Scattering in Three-Dimensional Photonic Crystals

The optical properties of three-dimensional photonic crystals associated with the form of reflection spectra from their surface (appearance of a forbidden gap in the energy spectrum) and with the specific features of Raman scattering are analyzed. Idealized models of the energy band structure of photonic crystals are studied. Expressions for the group velocity of photons with energy close to the forbidden gap are derived. Experimental results on the Raman scattering in photonic crystals based on artificial opal as well as in fused silica are discussed. Bands due to quantum-size effects (presence of nanoclusters in fused silica and nanoglobules forming the lattice of globular photonic crystals) were manifested in the spectra of inelastic light scattering. It is proposed to use photonic crystals for the creation of sensitive sensors of organic and inorganic substances using modern Raman techniques.     

Nanostructural effects on optical properties of tungsten inverse opal

Tungsten (W) photonic crystals are very attractive because of their potential applications in the conventional lighting field. In this work we show that W nanostructures have dominative effects on optical properties of W inverse opal. The nanoparticle structure of W phase can cause intensive optical absorption and breakdown of the photonic band gap; on the contrary, W inverse opal made from bulk and compact W phase would have weak absorption and possess a good photonic band gap. The results will throw a new light on the study and application of W photonic crystals and development of other photonic crystal and black-body materials. Electronic Supplementary Material  The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Design of photonic bands for opal-based photonic crystals

To make a device from an opal—or otherwise—the photonic bands and the optical properties derived from them are needed. Knowing the effects of different parameters defining the opal geometry and different possible modifications of its structure are needed, too. An accurate definition of the device will be required to obtain a good performance. With this aim, the optics of light with a wavevector in the vicinity of the L point in the Brillouin zone and its coupling to bare opals band structure are presented. An important aspect is the transition from finite to infinite crystal and the study of size effects on the bands. It is possible to substantially alter the photonic band structure of an opal-based system, while maintaining the lattice structure, simply by growing layers of other materials with an appropriate refractive index. Here, it is shown how, by the growth of accurately controlled thin layers of silicon and germanium, and further processing, one can induce the opening of two complete photonic band gaps (PBGs) in an opal structure. Finally, the possibility to fabricate a simple device consisting in a planar waveguide will be shown. By means of a very simple and inexpensive procedure, engineered planar defects acting as microcavities have been realized. These can be viewed as a particular case of a much more general class of heterostructures that can be grown by combining opal vertical deposition and chemical vapour deposition of oxides. A further step is made by applying electron beam lithography to provide lateral definition and facilitate three-dimensional structuring.     

基于自准直效应的光子晶体异质结偏振分束器

基于光子晶体的自准直效应和禁带特性,提出了一种具有非正交异质结结构的光子晶体偏振分束器.无需引入缺陷或波导,可使光波在该结构中准直无发散地传输并实现分束功能,对制造工艺的要求大大降低.利用Rsoft软件,结合平面波展开法和二维时域有限差分法,对提出的偏振分束器进行了仿真研究.结果表明,该偏振分束器在一个较大的频率范围f=0.275—0.285(a/λ)内可实现横电(TE)和横磁(TM)模的大角度偏振分离,TE和TM模的透过率均在88%以上,偏振消光比分别大于26.57 dB和17.50 dB.该结构可应用到太赫兹波段的传输系统中,a=26μm,尺寸大小为572μm×546μm,在91—95μm波长范围内可实现TE和TM模的分离.利用该结构可设计用于光通信系统(n=3.48)的偏振分束器,a=426.25 nm,结构仅为9.38μm×8.95μm.本方案结构简单,易于集成,有望在集成光路的发展中发挥重要作用.     

光全息制作的变形面心立方结构光子晶体的带隙

四束激光从空气直接入射到平面结构的感光树脂所制备的面心立方结构实际上是一种不但晶格沿[111]方向拉伸,而且其格点也在[111]方向被拉长的变形面心立方结构。在对这种变形面心立方结构的光子晶体的晶格形状及能带分布的研究中,通过利用麻省理工学院的光子晶体能带计算程序计算了各种参量对此变形面心立方结构的蛋白石和反蛋白石的能带分布的影响,发现在一定条件下该结构的蛋白石会出现完全光子带隙。用激光全息聚合法在正胶的环氧树脂中可制作反蛋白石模板,若用此模板制作硅蛋白石,当晶格沿[111]方向拉伸2.1倍和硅的占空比为13.7%时出现最大的带隙宽度。此最大带隙宽度的结构的制作光路是三角锥形光路,对称地环绕中央光束的三束外围激光束之间夹角为54.0°,三束外围激光束与中央激光束夹角为31.6°。     

Gold film-terminated 3-dimensional photonic crystals

Hybrid metal-dielectric photonic crystals assembled from an opal film coated by a gold film are designed in order to realize optical spectra that emanate from mixing Bloch modes in the opal and surface plasmon polaritons in corrugated gold films. The photonic crystal provides a spatial template for the gold film profile and modifies the electromagnetic vacuum in the vicinity to the gold layer. Reflectance spectroscopy was applied to deconvolute the plasmonic and photonic bandgap components in the optical response of hybrid crystals as opposite to their mixed appearance in the transmission spectra.     

Structure of light scattering spectra in opal photonic crystals

Spectra of light losses are studied at a fixed angle of incidence of a collimated beam on the surface of an opal anisotropic photon crystal at various observation angles. It is shown that the structure of the forward-and backscattered light spectra is connected with the existence of several directional photonic forbidden bands. It is demonstrated that back scattering is enhanced and forward scattering is suppressed in the frequency region of photonic forbidden bands. It is suggested that a scattering band associated with photon localization at the photonic gap edge is observed.     

Single laser exposure fabrication of diamond-like 3-dimensional photonic crystal microstructures using circularly polarized light

Phase tunable multi-level diffractive optical elements define an attractive approach for single laser exposure fabrication of 3-dimensional photonic crystal microstructures. The significant advantage of these multi-level diffractive optical elements over two-level diffractive optical elements is the flexibility of fabricating a wide range of 3-dimensional periodic structures by manipulating the relative phase of different diffracted beams. Here, phase tuning was applied to demonstrate fabrication of a hybrid 3-dimensional structure intermediate between previously reported diamond-like Woodpile-type structure of tetragonal symmetry and structure having body-centered-tetragonal lattice symmetry. Circularly polarized light was applied for the first time to balance the diffraction order efficiencies and improve the structural uniformity. Design guidelines are presented for generating diamond-like photonic crystal template that possesses complete photonic bandgap when inverted with high refractive index materials.