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.