Disorder-induced losses in photonic crystal waveguides with line defects

A numerical analysis of extrinsic diffraction losses in two-dimensional photonic crystal slabs with line defects is reported. To model disorder, a Gaussian distribution of hole radii in the triangular lattice of airholes is assumed. The extrinsic losses below the light line increase quadratically with the disorder parameter, decrease slightly with increasing core thickness, and depend weakly on the hole radius. For typical values of the disorder parameter the calculated loss values of guided modes below the light line compare favorably with available experimental results.     

Coupled-cavity QED using planar photonic crystals

We introduce a technique for controlling cavity QED by indirectly coupling two planar-photonic-crystal nanocavities through an integrated waveguide. Guided by an explicit analytical expression for the photon Green function, the resulting optical response of a single quantum dot, embedded in one of the cavities, is shown to be profoundly influenced by the distant cavity. The regimes of cavity QED, e.g., vacuum Rabi splitting, are made significantly easier and richer than with one cavity alone.     

Enhanced second-harmonic generation from planar photonic crystals

Strongly enhanced second-harmonic generation is observed from a two-dimensional square lattice GaAs/AlGaAs photonic crystal waveguide when the fundamental beam, the second-harmonic beam, or both beams resonantly couple to a leaky eigenmode. P-polarized second-harmonic spectra are obtained for s-polarized, 150-fs pump pulses that are tuned from 5000 to 5600 cm(-1) and directed along the gamma-chi direction of the crystal for various angles of incidence. Compared with off-resonant conditions, enhancements of >1200x in the second-harmonic conversion are observed for resonant coupling of both the fundamental and the second-harmonic fields to leaky eigenmnodes. The angular and spectral positions of the peaks are in good agreement with simulations.     

Disorder-induced soliton transmission in nonlinear photonic lattices

We address soliton transmission and reflection in nonlinear photonic lattices embedded into uniform Kerr nonlinear media. We show that by introducing disorder into the guiding lattice channels, one may achieve soliton transmission even under conditions where regular lattices reflect the input beam completely. In contrast, in the parameter range in which the lattice is almost transparent for incoming solitons, disorder may induce a significant reflection.     

Finite-depth and intrinsic losses in vertically etched two-dimensional photonic crystals

We address the issue of out-of-plane losses in two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystals (PC) etched through a GaAs monomode waveguide clad with standard GaAlAs alloys. We correlate experimental transmission of PCs with two kinds of loss simulation results. The first kind is 2D and introduces an ad hoc imaginary index in the air holes to account for the losses [see (Benisty et al. Appl. Phys. Lett. 76, 532, 2000)]. The second kind is a novel exact three-dimensional calculation inspired by grating-Fourier analysis that provides quantitatively unprecedented agreement with experimental measurements taking into account hole depth as a limiting parameter. We conclude that, in revision to the conclusions of the above reference, the experimental losses are not the intrinsic ones, being larger by a factor of 5 to 10 due to insufficient hole depth. The transition occurs at a critical etch depth shown to be here around 700 nm. We thus predict, for holes deeper than 700 nm, much improved crystals with very low transmission losses and microresonators with ultra-high quality factors.     

Millimeter-scale self-collimation in planar photonic crystals fabricated by CMOS technology

We report self-collimating demonstration in planar photonic crystals (PhCs) fabricated in silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers using 0.18 μm silicon complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) techniques. This process is original in the context of self-collimating PhC. Emphasis was on demonstrating self-collimation effect through the use of standard CMOS equipment and process development of an optical test chip using a high-volume manufacturing facility. The PhC were designed on 230 nm-top-Si layer using a square lattice of air-holes with 270 nm in diameter. The lattice constant of the PhC was 380 nm. The 1 mm self-collimation was observed at the wavelengths of 1620 nm.     

Spatial solitons in chi(2) planar photonic crystals

We analyze light self-confinement induced by multiple nonlinear resonances in a two-dimensional chi(2) photonic crystal. With reference to second-harmonic generation in a hexagonal lattice, we show that the system can not only support two-color (1+1)D solitary waves with enhanced confinement and steering capabilities but also enable novel features such as wavelength-dependent soliton routing.     

Characterization of planar photonic crystals using surface coupling techniques at large wavelengths

We report a non-destructive characterization of planar two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystals (PhCs) made in silicon on insulator (SOI) wafers using ellipsometric or Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscope. At large wavelengths, devices behave as homogeneous isotropic materials defined by an effective filling factor. The experimental results related to the PhC limited dimensions confirm this characterization.     

Disorder-induced localization of light near edges of nonlinear photonic lattices

We investigated the influence of edges and corners on the Anderson localization of light in disordered two-dimensional photonic lattices that are optically induced in nonlinear saturable photorefractive media. A systematic quantitative study of gradual transition from corner to bulk Anderson localization in truncated two-dimensional photonic lattices was carried out. We analyzed numerically the localization at several corners and edges of the square and triangular photonic lattices and compared them with the localization in bulk medium. We found that, for strong disorder, corners and edges effectively suppress Anderson localization, as compared to the bulk, but to a varying degree.     

Quantitative measurement of low propagation losses at 1.55 mum on planar photonic crystal waveguides

The Fabry-Perot resonance technique has been used to determine the propagation losses of planar photonic crystal (PC) waveguides. The structures are patterned into a GaInAsP confining layer on an InP substrate. Losses as low as 11 dB/mm have been measured on a guiding structure with three missing rows. The influence of the PC guide width and air-filling factor is demonstrated.     

Laser nanosources based on planar photonic crystals as new platforms for nanophotonic devices

Two-dimensional photonic crystal lasers have been fabricated on III–V semiconductor slabs. Tuning of the spontaneous emission in micro and nanocavities has been achieved by accurate control of the slab thickness. Different structures, some of them of new application to photonic crystal lasers, have been fabricated like the Suzuki-phase or the coupled-cavity ring-like resonators. Laser emission has been obtained by pulsed optical pumping. Optical characterization of the lasing modes have been performed showing one or more laser peaks centred around 1.55 μm. Far field characterization of the emission pattern has been realized showing different patterns depending on the geometrical shape of the structures. These kinds of devices may be used as efficient nanolaser sources for optical communications or optical sensors.     

Efficient terahertz coupling lens based on planar photonic crystals on silicon on insulator

We present a promising coupling device, namely, a terahertz (THz) planar photonic crystal (PhC) lens based on the effective refractive-index contrast between the PhC and the surrounding unpatterned area. Three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain calculations show a 90% power transfer from a 100-microm silicon waveguide to a 10-microm waveguide, and 45% coupling efficiency is confirmed experimentally. These results demonstrate the utility of the PhC lens as an effective approach to coupling into PhC THz circuits.     

Metallic photonic crystals

Metallic photonic crystals (PC), also originally called artificial dielectrics, have properties different from those of their dielectric homologues. They are of strategic interest for the microwave domain where they exhibit sufficiently weak loss in addition to their robustness, conformability and low-cost fabrication. In this paper, we review some recent results on metallic photonic crystals and their potential applications to microwave circuits and antennas. After recalling spectral properties of metallic PC, we successively address ultra-compact structures such as high-impedance surfaces, electrically controllable photonic band gaps and left-handed materials. Finally, we discuss new opportunities offered by metallic PCs in the optical domain. To cite this article: J.-M. Lourtioz, A. de Lustrac, C. R. Physique 3 (2002) 79–88     

Natural photonic crystals

Photonic structures appeared in nature several hundred millions years ago. In the living world, color is used for communication and this important function strongly impacts the individual chances of survival as well as the chances to reproduce. This has a statistical influence on species populations. Therefore, because they are involved in evolution, natural color-generating structures are – from some point of view – highly optimized. In this short review, a survey is presented of the development of natural photonic crystal-type structures occurring in insects, spiders, birds, fishes and other marine animals, in plants and more, from the standpoint of light-waves propagation. One-, two-, and three-dimensional structures will be reviewed with selected examples.     

Graded photonic crystals

We present a concept of graded photonic crystals used to enhance the control of light propagation. Gradual modifications of the lattice periodicity make it possible to bend the light at the micrometer scale. This effect is tailored by parametric studies of the isofrequency curves. As a demonstration, we propose a two-dimensional graded photonic crystal that could provide frequency-selective tunable bending.     

Fundamental losses in planar Bragg waveguides

This paper considers a planar Bragg waveguide. The guided modes and their dissipation due to the fundamental absorption are described. In the interacting-wave approximation, an analytical relation between the characteristics of the modes and parameters of the Bragg-waveguide geometry was established. Absorption losses in hollow Bragg waveguides were shown to be significantly lower than in a regular waveguide fabricated from the same material. Quantitative estimates of the fundamental and radiation losses in Bragg waveguides are given for materials used at wavelengths of 1.55, 10.6, and 0.245 μm.