Graphene-based photonic crystal

A novel type of photonic crystal formed by embedding a periodic array of constituent stacks of alternating graphene and dielectric discs into a background dielectric medium is proposed. The photonic band structure and transmittance of such photonic crystal are calculated. The graphene-based photonic crystals can be used effectively as the frequency filters and waveguides for the far infrared region of electromagnetic spectrum. Due to substantial suppression of absorption of low-frequency radiation in doped graphene the damping and skin effect in the photonic crystal are also suppressed. The advantages of the graphene-based photonic crystal are discussed.     

THERMAL RADIATION PROPERTY OF A THREE DIMENSIONAL PHOTONIC CRYSTAL BASED ON MULTIPLE SCATTERING METHOD

We have studied absorption and thermal radiation for a three dimensional lossy photonic crystal of dielectric spheres by using a multiple scattering method. It is shown that such simple structures have excellent selective thermal radiative characteristics in different photonic bands. There is stronger thermal radiation at high frequency than that at low frequency. In comparison with the uniform slab without photonic crystal structure, in the photonic band gap, the thermal emission intensity is greatly suppressed and very weak, but not zero due to the penetration depth. Under the same lattice structure, the thermal emission of photonic crystal varies with the change of the radius of the spheres.     

Influence of the dielectric background on the quality factors of metallo-dielectric photonic crystals

The effect of varying the dielectric background on the quality factor of two-dimensional metallo-dielectric photonic crystals is theoretically studied. The studied metallo-dielectric photonic crystal consists of a square lattice of circular metallic rods embedded into a dielectric background with a defect rod on the center that creates resonant modes within the photonic band gap. The metal is modeled with the Drude dispersion relation. A combination of the finite-difference time-domain method together with a frequency filtering technique is used to estimate accurately the resonant frequencies and their quality factors. The results show that the quality factors increase with increasing background dielectric constant. If a dielectric background material such as Silicon is used instead of air, an enhancement in the quality factor of up to eight times can be achieved, depending on the resonant mode. We also show that, depending on the modes, there exists an optimal size for the defect rod that gives the maximum quality factor.     

Graphene-based one-dimensional photonic crystal

A novel type of one-dimensional (1D) photonic crystal formed by an array of periodically located stacks of alternating graphene and dielectric stripes embedded into a background dielectric medium is proposed. The wave equation for the electromagnetic wave propagating in such a structure is solved in the framework of the Kronig-Penney model. The frequency band structure of the 1D graphene-based photonic crystal is obtained analytically as a function of the filling factor and the thickness of the dielectric between the graphene stripes. The photonic frequency corresponding to the electromagnetic wave localized by a defect of the photonic crystal formed by an extra dielectric placed in the position of one stack of alternating graphene and dielectric stripes is obtained.     

Photonic-plasmonic hybrid microcavities: Physics and applications

Photonic-plasmonic hybrid microcavities, which possess a higher figure of merit Q/V (the ratio of quality factor to mode volume) than that of pure photonic microcavities or pure plasmonic nano-antennas, play key roles in enhancing light-matter interaction. In this review, we summarize the typical photonic-plasmonic hybrid microcavities, such as photonic crystal microcavities combined with plasmonic nano-antenna, whispering gallery mode microcavities combined with plasmonic nano-antenna, and Fabry-Perot microcavities with plasmonic nano-antenna. The physics and applications of each hybrid photonic-plasmonic system are illustrated. The recent developments of topological photonic crystal microcavities and topological hybrid nano-cavities are also introduced, which demonstrates that topological microcavities can provide a robust platform for the realization of nanophotonic devices. This review can bring comprehensive physical insights of the hybrid system, and reveal that the hybrid system is a good platform for realizing strong light-matter interaction.     

Imaging Properties of a Rectangular-Lattice Metallic Photonic-Crystal Slab

We report the imaging properties of a two-dimensional rectangular-lattice photonic crystal （PC） slab consisting of rectangular metallic rods immersed in a dielectric background. By simulating the electromagnetic wave propagation through such a PC slab with the finite-difference time-domain method, we find that a point source placed in the vicinity of the PC slab can form a good-quality image through the slab. The frequency region where a good-quality image is formed can be controlled by choosing the direction along which the PC slab surface normal is placed.     

Silicon nano-membrane based photonic crystal microcavities for high sensitivity bio-sensing

We experimentally demonstrated photonic crystal microcavity based resonant sensors coupled to photonic crystal waveguides in silicon nano-membrane on insulator for chemical and bio-sensing. Linear L-type microcavities are considered. In contrast to cavities with small mode volumes, but low quality factors for bio-sensing, we showed increasing the length of the microcavity enhances the quality factor of the resonance by an order of magnitude and increases the resonance wavelength shift while retaining compact device characteristics. Q~26760 and sensitivity down to 15 ng/ml and ~110 pg/mm2 in bio-sensing was experimentally demonstrated on silicon-on-insulator devices.     

Effect of a Two-Dimensional Periodic Dielectric Background on Complete Photonic Band Gap in Complex Square Lattices

A two-dimensional photonic crystal model with a periodic square dielectric background is proposed. The photonic band modulation effects due to the two-dimensional periodic background are investigated in detail. It is found that periodic modulation of the dielectric background greatly alters photonic band structures, especially for the Epolarization modes. The number, width and position of the photonic band gaps sensitively depend on the dielectric constants of the two-dimensional periodic background. Complete band gaps are found, and the dependence of the widths of these gaps on the structural and material parameters of the two alternating rods/holes is studied.     

High-Q microfluidic cavities in silicon-based two-dimensional photonic crystal structures

We demonstrate postprocessed microfluidic double-heterostructure cavities in silicon-based photonic crystal slab waveguides. The cavity structure is realized by selective fluid infiltration of air holes using a glass microtip, resulting in a local change of the average refractive index of the photonic crystal. The microcavities are probed by evanescent coupling from a silica nanowire. An intrinsic quality factor of 57,000 has been derived from our measurements, representing what we believe to be the largest value observed in microfluidic photonic crystal cavities to date.     

Controlling the resonance of a photonic crystal microcavity by a near-field probe

We demonstrate theoretically that the resonance frequencies of high-Q microcavities in two-dimensional photonic crystal membranes can be tuned over a wide range by introducing a subwavelength dielectric tip into the cavity mode. Three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations show that by varying the lateral and vertical positions of the tip, it is possible to tune the resonator frequency without lowering the quality factor. Excellent agreement with a perturbative theory is obtained, showing that the tuning range is limited by the ratio of the cavity mode volume to the effective polarizability of the nanoperturber.     

高品质因子和高传输效率的二维光子晶体耦合腔波导研究

基于时域有限差分方法,通过仿真计算设计了一种具有较高品质因子和传输效率的二维光子晶体耦合腔波导结构。通过改变二维光子晶体波导微腔结构中隔绝波导与微腔的空气孔的半径和数量,在获得近似90%的传输效率的同时,使得品质因子达到了8.20×104。为了使品质因子在大幅度提高的同时,传输效率只有小幅度的降低,在波导微腔结构中引入了链式微腔。将链式微腔结构与传统的波导微腔结构相结合,使这种新形式的耦合腔结构的品质因子提高了1个数量级,传输效率仅下降了约40%。     

Optical trapping of metal-dielectric nanoparticle clusters near photonic crystal microcavities

We predict the formation of optically trapped, metal-dielectric nanoparticle clusters above photonic crystal microcavities. We determine the conditions on particle size and position for a gold particle to be trapped above the microcavity. We then show that strong field redistribution and enhancement near the trapped gold nanoparticle results in secondary trapping sites for a pair of dielectric nanoparticles.     

Numerical Analysis of Microcavities on Two-dimensional Photonic Crystals

We analyzed the frequency and quality factor of microcavities on a two-dimensional photonic crystal, using a Fourier series expansion method combined with perfectly matched layers (PMLs). Numerical examples are demonstrated and discussed to show that the resonant frequency and the quality factor Q values can be calculated by the present method using PMLs.     

Near-field imaging of a square-lattice metallic photonic-crystal slab at the second band

Imaging properties of a two-dimensional photonic crystal slab lens are investigated through the finite-difference time-domain method. In this paper, we consider the photonic crystal slab consisting of a square lattice of square metallic rods immersed in a dielectric background. Through the analysis of the equifrequency-surface contours and the field patterns of a point source placed in the vicinity of the photonic crystal slab, we find that a good-quality image can form at the frequencies in the second TM-polarized photonic band. Comparing the images formed at different frequencies, we can clearly see that an excellent-quality image is formed by the mechanisms of simultaneous action of the self-collimation effect and the negative-refraction effect.     

基于环形微腔的多频段三角晶格光子晶体耦合腔波导光学传输特性

本文理论研究了近红外波段硅基三角晶格光子晶体环形微腔的光场局域特性,通过将微腔在空间周期性排列组成耦合腔光波导,研究了多个导带区域内光束传输时的群速度,最大和最小值分别为0.0028c和0.00028c.将环形微腔在垂直于光传输方向上进行交错排列,通过改变相邻微腔之间的耦合区域,可以大幅降低多频段范围内光束在耦合腔波导中传输时群速度之间的差异,并提高部分频段的透过率数值.在不改变介质柱半径条件下,通过去掉三角晶格光子晶体中距中心介质柱距离分别为2a和√3a的六个介质柱构成了两种微腔,研究了两种微腔所支持的谐振波长之间的差异,在此基础上构造了两种耦合腔波导,进而将这两种耦合腔光波导与W1型输入/输出波导相连,最终实现了在多个不同频率范围内降低群速度的同时实现频段选择和频段分束功能,其导模群速度可降低到0.00047c.     

Room-Temperature Photonic Crystal Laser in H3 Cavity on InGaAsP/InP Slab

We fabricate and investigate two-dimensional photonic crystal H3 microcavities in an InGaAsP slab. The lasing action at room temperature is observed. The lasering threshold is 7mW under the pulsed pump of 0.75% duty cycle. The Q factor and the lasing mode characteristics are simulated by three-dimensional finite difference time domain method. The simulation result matches well with the experiment.     

Negative refractive behavior of a two-dimensional negative-index photonic crystals using a wave vector diagram method

We have theoretically studied the negative refractive behavior and the focusing effect in a two-dimensional square-lattice photonic crystal made of air rods in a dielectric background. Detailed explanations are given for the effect of the negative refraction, and the imaging of the plano-concave lens is shown by the use of a wave vector diagram formalism. The typical negative refractive behavior is demonstrated by considering the Bloch mode with the wave vector inside the first Brillouin zone, because only those wave vectors inside the first Brillouin zone of multiple Brillouin zones have a definite meaning. The single propagating beam is analyzed by the use of the wave vector diagram formalism following the folding of the wave vectors. Good-quality focusing of a plane wave can be realized by using a photonic crystal plano-concave lens, while a plane wave is formed by a point source placed at the focal point. Our results are in good agreement with the experimental ones shown for a negative-index plano-concave lens by Vodo et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 86 (2005) 201108]. Finally, we also have shown the focusing behavior of a plane wave and a Gaussian pulse by a plano-concave lens structure with high-index modulation instead of air in the concave region.     

二维点缺陷正方光子晶体的微腔结构

通过平面波展开法对由Al₂O₃介质棒在空气背景介质中构成含有点缺陷的二维正方光子晶体微腔结构进行研究,计算得出缺陷态能带以及缺陷态模场分布。缺陷模对应的电磁波波长为470~476nm。对该微腔结构的品质因数的求解,得出缺陷态光谱曲线。在光谱曲线中,随着传输波长的增大,将产生几个峰值,并且在475nm处的波动最为明显,反映出在475nm附近的电磁波段在缺陷处的光强较大。进一步利用全矢量等效折射率法研究该结构缺陷模频率的稳定性,得出等效折射率的变化曲线。从等效折射率变化曲线可以看出,当传输波长达到475nm时,该结构已经达到稳定传输的区域。含缺陷模的二维光子晶体微腔结构在光子晶体发光二极管以及高阈值半导体激光器等方面有着重要的应用价值。     

圆柱形散射子二维光子晶体的态密度与局域态密度

二维光子晶体只有赝带隙,因此能否利用二维光子晶体有效控制原子自发辐射是令人感兴趣也是有实际意义的问题。其中最重要的因素是态密度和局域态密度的性质。采用平面波展开结合晶体群论的方法计算了二维正方格子光子晶体的态密度和局域态密度。其中散射子为空气圆柱,放置在均匀的电介质背景上。结果显示两个特点:第一,总态密度和局域态密度在原来二维光子晶体赝带隙处虽然已经不为零,但是取值明显低于赝带隙范围之外的值,即存在一个准光子带隙。第二,局域态密度在空气散射子界面处发生突变,空气散射子区域的局域态密度相对较大,这可由电位移矢量的连续性来理解。由于这两个特点在其他二维光子晶体中也被发现过,它们可能是普遍存在的。     

Ultrasmall mode volumes in dielectric optical microcavities

We theoretically demonstrate a mechanism for reduction of mode volume in high index contrast optical microcavities to below a cubic half wavelength. We show that by using dielectric discontinuities with subwavelength dimensions as a means of local field enhancement, the effective mode volume (V(eff)) becomes wavelength independent. Cavities with V(eff) on the order of 10(-2)(lambda/2n)(-3) can be achieved using such discontinuities, with a corresponding increase in the Purcell factor of nearly 2 orders of magnitude relative to previously demonstrated high index photonic crystal cavities.