Photonic Crystal Waveguide Intersection Based on Self-Imaging of Multi-Mode Interference

A new mechanism of intersection formed by two line defect photonic crystal （PC） waveguides are numerically investigated using the finite-diFference time-domain method. The results show that the normalized crosstalk is smaller than 10^-4; the reflection is smaller than 10^-3, and the transmission is larger than 0.999. The authors analyse the physical origins and find that a modified self-imaging process in the intersected multi-mode region is the main reason of the excellent performance. This kind of multi-mode interference based intersection may find potential applications in PC optical circuits.     

Negative Refraction in One-Dimensional Photonic Crystals with Tilted Interface

We investigate the wave propagation through the tilted interface of one-dimensional photonic crystals. Negative refraction can be realized by excitation of the Bloch states in the extended Brillouin zone with suppressed reflection. Equi-frequency surface analysis shows that the positive refraction, negative refraction or birefringence in this configuration can be achieved under a proper incident angle, which is confirmed by finite-difference timedomain simulations. The results may be useful in applications in the new devices based on one-dimensional photonic or optical waveguide arrays.     

Emissions of Photonic Crystal Waveguides with Discretely Modulated Surfaces

Transmission properties of photonic crystal （PC） waveguides with discretely modulated exit surfaces are investigated numerically using the finite-difference time-domain （FDTD） method. Unlike the case of periodically modulated surfaces, where the transmission beam tends to be a single and directional beam, when the exit surfaces are modulated only at several discrete points, the emission power tends to split into multiple and directional beams. We explain this phenomenon using a multiple point source interference model. Based on these results, we propose a 1-to-N beam splitter, and numerically realized high efficiency coupling between a PC sub-wavelength waveguide and three traditional dielectric waveguides with a total efficiency larger than 92%. This simple, easy fabrication, and controllable mechanism may find more potential applications in integrated optical circuits.     

Photonic crystal waveguide sampled gratings

Photonic crystal waveguide sampled gratings (PCWSG) are proposed to realize multi-channel optical filter in a photonic crystal (PC) waveguide. The reflection characteristics of the filter are analyzed by using the coupled-mode theory (CMT) together with transfer-matrix method (TMM). It is shown that the reflection spectrum of the filter exhibits a group of reflection peaks, which are distributed with equal frequency spacing within the photonic crystal bandgap (PBG). The theoretically calculated results are numerically verified by using two-dimensional (2D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method.     

Roughness losses and volume-current methods in photonic-crystal waveguides

We present predicted relative scattering losses from sidewall roughness in a strip waveguide compared to an identical waveguide surrounded by a photonic crystal with a complete or incomplete gap in both 2d and 3d. To do so, we develop a new semi-analytical extension of the classic “volume-current method” (Green’s functions with a Born approximation), correcting a longstanding limitation of such methods to low-index contrast systems (the classic method may be off by an order of magnitude in high-contrast systems). The resulting loss predictions show that even incomplete gap structures such as photonic-crystal slabs should, with proper design, be able to reduce losses by a factor of two compared to an identical strip waveguide; however, incautious design can lead to increased losses in the photonic-crystal system, a phenomena that we explain in terms of the band structure of the unperturbed crystal.     

Efficient transmission in cascaded photonic crystal waveguides via a strong coupling effect

A design of cascaded photonic crystal waveguide is proposed in this paper inspired by the work of Tang et al. [D. Tang, L. Chen, W. Ding, Appl. Phys. Lett. 89 (2006) 131120]. In contrast to a conventional waveguide source, a plane wave source is applied in the current design. We show that an efficient guide mode in the photonic band gap can be achieved. The same idea also works for a slight variation by defects introduction in the photonic crystal. Finally, the strong coupling effect present in the cascaded waveguides is demonstrated by an analogy with photonic quantum wells.     

Polarization-Independent Guided-Mode Resonance Filters under Oblique Incidence

We present the dispersion relation of guided-mode resonances in planar periodic waveguides, both for s-polarized （TF, mode） and p-polarized （TM mode） incident waves. For a fixed homogeneous planar waveguide, dispersion curves of the TE eigenmode cannot cross that of the TM eigenmode at all. That is to say, at a certain wavelength, TE and TM modes cannot be excited with the same propagation constant. Due to Bragg reflection in the planar periodic waveguide, dispersion curves of the TE leaky mode may intersect with that of the TM leaky mode in the first Brillouin zone. We employ these intersections to achieve polarization-independent guided-mode resonance filters.     

Polarization Beam Splitter Based on Self-Collimation Effect in Two-Dimensional Photonics Crystal

A photonic crystal polarization beam splitter based on the self-collimation effect is proposed. By means of the plane wave expansion method and the finite-difference time-domain method, we analyse the splitting mechanism in two alternative ways： performing a band gap structure analysis and simulating the field distribution. The results indicate that two beams of different polarizations can be split with an extinction ratio of nearly 20 dB in a wavelength range of POnm. The splitter may have practical applications in integrated photonic circuits.     

TM-like and TE-like Modes Coupling in a Two-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Slab Composed of Truncated Cone Silicon Rods

We numerically investigate the coupling of TE-like modes and TM-like modes in a two-dimensional （2D） photonic crystal （PC） slab composed of truncated cone silicon rods. In such structures, the classification of TE-like modes and TM-like modes is generally impossible and the coupling occurs due to vertical structural asymmetries. The frequency and wavevector dependences of the mode coupling are discussed by investigating the photonic band structures, and the coupling efficiency is studied by examining the transmittance. The results show that the efficiency of mode conversion is strengthened by the vertical asymmetry and weakened by the clear sinall gap. These structures could be used as polarization conversion devices in integrated optics.     

Line defect splitters for self-collimated beams in photonic crystals

A one-to-two splitter for self-collimated beams in photonic crystal (PC) is designed by inserting one row of line defects. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used to simulate the light propagation process. Our systematical studies show that the splitting ratio is a function of the airholes size of the line defect radius, and stays fairly constant as a function of frequency. Furthermore, it is shown the numerical results can be analyzed by coupled-mode theory.     

Multimode-Waveguide-Based Optical Power Splitters in Glass

Low-loss glass-based buried multimode waveguides are fabricated by using the field-assisted Ag＋-Na＋ ionexchange technique, and multimode optical power splitters are investigated. The measured loss of the multimode waveguides is lower than 0.1 dB/cm, and the additional loss of the multimode optical power splitters is lower than 1.3 dB under the uniform splitting condition.     

Structure Tuning of Line-Defect Waveguides Based on Silicon-on-Insulator Photonic Crystal Slabs

We present fabrication and experimental measurement of a series of photonic crystal waveguides. The complete devices consist of an injector taper down from 3 μm into a triangular-lattice air-hole single-line-defect waveguide with lattice constant from 410nm to 470nm and normalized radius 0.31. We fabricate these devices on a silicon- on-insulator substrate and characterize them using a t unable laser source over a wavelength range from 1510 nm to 1640nm. A sharp attenuation at photonic crystal waveguide mode edge is observed for most structures. The edge of guided band is shifted about 30nm with the 10nm increase of the lattice constant, We obtain high-efficiency light propagation and broad flat spectrum response of the photonic crystal waveguides.     

Polarization-selective grating mirrors used in the generation of radial polarization

Two novel methods to control the polarization of laser radiation are presented. The discrimination between different polarization distributions isperformed with a corrugation grating in the top high-index layer of a multilayer mirror, which couples the undesired polarization into a lossy waveguidemode of the multilayer. The generation of radially polarized radiation in a laser resonator is presented as a practical verification of the principle.This revised version was published online in May 2005. The Article Category was removed.This revised version was published online in August 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

A Multilayered Configuration Broadband Polarization Insensitive Reflector Utilizing a Multi-Subpart Profile Grating Structure

A multilayered configuration broad bandwidth polarization insensitive reflector realized by a multi-subpart profile grating structure is presented. The properties of the reflector are investigated by rigorous coupled-wave analysis. It is shown that over a broadband spectrum of 1.62-1.76μm, the reflector demonstrates high reflectivity （R 〉 99%）, low polarization-dependent loss （PDL〈 0.02 dB） and good angular insensitivity of about 29.6% for both transverse electric and transverse magnetic polarized waves.     

Modified Spontaneous Emission from Dye Molecules inside a Photonic Crystal Microcavity

We fabricate a photonic crystal microcavity containing Alq3 in a sandwiched structure by the self-assemble method. The angle-dependent photoluminescence （PL） spectra and the variation of the PL lifetime demonstrate the effect of the photonic band gap on the spontaneous emission of Alq3 in the photonic crystals.     

Fluid Sensor Based on Transmission Dip Caused by Mini Stop-Band in Photonic Crystal Slab

We propose a fluid sensor based on transmission dip caused by mini stop-band in photonic crystal slabs. Simulation results show that this novel type of sensors has large detective range （more than 1.5） and relative high sensitivity （4.3×10^-5 in certain conditions）. The central frequency and bandwidth of the mini stop-bands depend on the structure parameters of PC waveguides, which makes it possible to optimize the detective range and detective sensitivity.     

Photonic band gap properties of GaP opals with a new topology

In this paper, we propose that the “anomalous” optical response exhibited by GaP and InP infiltrated opals is due to the peculiar morphology shown by these materials when grown within the pores. In order to account for their optical response, we propose a new structural model consisting of a network of high dielectric spheres located in the pores of the bare opal, interconnected by cylinders of the same material. A fair agreement between the theoretical predictions using this model and the experimental measurements has been found. We also show that the inverse structure presents very interesting optical properties.     

High Efficiency One-Way Transmission by One-Dimensional Photonic Crystals with Gratings on One Side

We propose a scheme of optical one-way transmission by using one-dimensional photonic crystals （PhCs） with diffraction gratings on one side. The one-way transmission is realized by making the PhC opaque to the zeroth diffraction order and transparent to another propagating （in air） diffraction order. For such a structure with 10-period PhC, 93% of the incident energy passes through when an electromagnetic wave impinges from one side, and the transmittance decreases to the order of 0.001% as the electromagnetic wave illuminates from the other side.     

Sub-terahertz on-off switch based on a two-dimensional photonic crystal infiltrated by liquid crystals

A sub-terahertz switch is realized by infiltration of a two-dimensional photonic crystal (PC) with the liquid crystal 5CB. On-off switching is based on a shift of the bandgap of the PC by applying an external electric field which rotates the 5CB molecules. We confirm theoretically and experimentally that rotating the optical axis of the 5CB molecules considerably affects the transmission of the electromagnetic waves of TM polarization in the stop band. The effect can be used for on-off switching of the electromagnetic waves in the sub-terahertz range. Experimentally we demonstrate an extinction ratio of 13.3 dB at 91 GHz.