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.     

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.     

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.     

Modulation of focus using photonic crystal waveguide

We study theoretically that a photonic crystal waveguide with modulated output surface can focus electromagnetic wave just like a lens. The characters of the focus are sensitive to the surface morphology and can be modulated by adjusting the parameters. Two methods are proposed to modify the focus, and an interesting off-axis focus is found in an asymmetrical structure.     

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.     

Photonic Crystal Polarizing and Non-Polarizing Beam Splitters

A polarizing beam splitter （PBS） and a non-polarizing beam splitter （NPBS） based on a photonic crystal （PC） directional coupler are demonstrated. The photonic crystal directional coupler consists of a hexagonal lattice of dielectric pillars in air and has a complete photonic band gap. The photonic band structure and the band gap map are calculated using the plane wave expansion （PWE） method. The splitting properties of the splitter are investigated numerically using the finite difference time domain （FDTD） method.     

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.     

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.     

Modeling of two-photon absorption in nonlinear photonic crystal all-optical switch

We present an approach of taking the two-photon absorption effect into account and apply it to analyze an all-optical switch by means of the finite-difference time-domain method. It is shown for a shortened model of the device that the impact of the two-photon absorption on the functionality of the device is drastic. Therefore, under realistic conditions, it should be borne in mind when designing all-optical devices.     

Ti:sapphire rib channel waveguide fabricated by reactive ion etching of a planar waveguide

We report, to our knowledge, the first active channel waveguide in Ti:sapphire. We have created ∼1.4-μm high ribs in a ∼10-μm thick Ti:sapphire planar waveguide by reactive ion etching. Following excitation by an Ar-ion laser, the rib structure showed channel-waveguide fluorescence emission. The mode profiles and the beam-parameter values (M²) were measured. The coupling efficiency of fluorescence emission into a single-mode fiber was an order of magnitude higher than for fluorescence from unstructured planar regions of the waveguide. Such devices are of interest as low-threshold tunable lasers and as broadband light sources in low-coherence interferometry. Received: 22 December 2002 / Revised version: 30 March 2002 / Published online: 8 August 2002     

Ultrasensitive UV-tunable grating in all-solid photonic bandgap fibers

We study the shift of a long period grating’s resonance wavelength with UV induced refractive index changes in an all-solid photonic bandgap fiber. A long period grating is mechanically imprinted in an all-solid photonic bandgap fiber with Germanium doped silica high-index rods in a lower-index silica background. The index of the high-index rods is modified through UV exposure, and we observe that the long period grating’s resonance shifts with the bandgaps. With a sensitivity of 21,000 nanometers per refractive index unit and a 8.8 nm resonance width changes of refractive index of 3 × 10⁻⁶ are in principle detectable     

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.     

Mode splitting in an optical slab waveguide filled with nematic liquid crystals

Mode splitting was observed when a He-Ne laser beam was reflected through a prism-coupled liquid-crystal slab waveguide under an applied electric field. The splitting manifests itself as the imposed voltage reaches a critical level, and diminishes when the voltage increases above a critical high value. If the applied voltage increases even further, mode splitting vanishes, attributing to the result that almost all the directors of the liquid crystal turn upright to the surface. The multi-layer matrix simulation can satisfactorily account for this phenomenon by exploiting the property of the anisotropic optical birefringence of a liquid crystal under applied voltages. Received: 2 December 2002 / Revised version: 24 January 2003 / Published online: 23 May 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +886/3572-3052, E-mail: jtlue@phys.nthu.edu.tw     

Dispersion properties of planar Bragg waveguides

We reformulate the leaky mode condition of planar Bragg waveguides as two simple, separate conditions on the propagation constant; a phase match condition and a loss formula. These relations enable efficient numerical calculations of the mode properties. Furthermore, we use the phase match condition as a starting point to discuss the dispersion of waveguides with advanced cladding structures. In particular, we point out that chirped claddings, where the effective reflection point is dependent on frequency, do not give dispersion characteristics significantly different from metallic waveguides or waveguides with periodic claddings.     

Proposals for Fabrication of Long-Period Grating in LiNbO3 Strip Waveguides

The structure of a strip LiNbO3 waveguide clad with a planar LiNbOa waveguide is proposed to fabricate a long-period waveguide grating （LPWG）. It is shown theoretically that an LPWG device based on such a special LiNbOa waveguide structure is of the merit of thermal stability. The methods for fabrication of planar waveguide, channel waveguide and grating are suggested and discussed. Detailed design consideration is exemplified based on a soft-proton-exchange planar waveguide clad Ti-diffused LiNbOa （Z-cut） strip waveguide.     

Air waveguide in a hybrid 1D and 2D photonic crystal hetero-structure

An air waveguide in hybrid one-dimensional photonic crystal and two-dimensional photonic crystal slab hetero-structure is designed. Light propagating in air waveguide can be confined by two-dimensional photonic crystal slab in x-y plane and one-dimensional photonic crystal films in z direction. Theoretical calculations show that air waveguide in the hetero-structure can achieve some functions as 3D PhCs but could be made more easily than 3D PhCs.     

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.     

Superprism effect in 1D photonic crystal

It is shown that superprism effect can be observed not only in 2D and 3D photonic crystal but also in 1D photonic crystal. To observe the effect a diffraction grating should be put on the top of the 1D PC. It is shown that the band gap more dramatically appears in 1D PC than in 2D PC. This effect makes all PBG effects including superprism effect more pronounced and also weakens the influence of losses.     

Beaming effect in multimode photonic crystal by using coupled waveguides

Beaming effect of a multimode photonic crystal (PC) covered by a waveguide array on the exit plane is investigated theoretically. The simulation results show that the multimode PC can make the incident light split into two beams, which can be regarded as secondary sources radiating light into the waveguide array. As a result, many light beams can be generated in the array by the coupling among the waveguides, and the interference of these light beams after passing the system leads to directional emission. Additionally, the directional emission is greatly affected by the beam distribution on the exit plane of the system. Once the main light beams are formed on the exit plane of the system by modulating the system size, steady beaming effect can be obtained in the horizontal direction.     

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.