We introduce a solution based on the source-model technique for periodic structures for the problem of electromagnetic scattering by a two-dimensional photonic bandgap crystal slab illuminated by a transverse-magnetic plane wave. The proposed technique takes advantage of the periodicity of the slab by solving the problem within the unit cell of the periodic structure. The results imply the exis...

We present here a variational method for maximizing the bandgap in a one-dimensional system where the potential is subject to given constraints. Two specific examples are studied in detail. In the first, we show that if the potential is constrained to lie between two values, the largest bandgap is obtained by a mixture of the highest and lowest potential an exact result valid in any dimension. ...

We report the mechanism of color production in peacock feathers. We find that the cortex in differently colored barbules, which contains a 2D photonic-crystal structure, is responsible for coloration. Simulations reveal that the photonic-crystal structure possesses a partial photonic bandgap along the direction normal to the cortex surface, for frequencies within which light is strongly reflect...

Significantly enhanced absorption at the defect mode can be obtained at surfacenormal direction in a dielectric single-defect photonic-crystal-slab, with an absorption enhancement factor greater than 4,000. Complete absorption suppression within the photonic bandgap region can also be observed in defect-free photonic crystal cavities. High spectral selectivity and tunability is feasible with de...

In a recent investigation, we studied two-dimensional point-defected photonic bandgap cavities composed of dielectric rods arranged according to various representative periodic and aperiodic lattices, with special emphasis on possible applications to particle acceleration (along the longitudinal axis). In this paper, we present a new study aimed at highlighting the possible advantages of using ...

One concern in using photonic band-gap fiber (PBGF) as a gas sensor is the response time. In this type of the gas sensors, response time is the time required for gas to diffuse into the hollow-core. So considering a large hollow-core PBGF (HC-PBGF), the response time can be significantly reduced. But in the large HC-PBGF, the fundamental issue is the presence of higher order modes (HOMs). Somet...

This presentation introduces a unique world of photonic crystals. They are artificial multidimensional periodic structures with a period of the order of optical wavelength. They have many analogies to solid state crystals. The most important one is the band of photons, which is a powerful theory for the understanding of light behavior in a complex photonic crystal structure. It enables us to cr...

We have fabricated microstructured polymer optical fibers that guide light in a hollow core using the photonic bandgap mechanism. The hollow core allows the use of polymer fibers to be extended to wavelength ranges where material absorption typically prohibits their use, with attenuation lower than the material loss observed in the infrared. The fabrication method is similar to other microstruc...

We systematically investigate and compare general methods of designing single mode photonic crystal waveguides in a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice of air holes in a dielectric material. We apply the rather general methods to dielectric-core hexagonal lattice photonic crystals since they have not been widely explored before. We show that it is possible to obtain single mode guiding in a limit...

We have microfabricated 2-D photonic bandgap structures in a thin slab of dielectric material to define reflectors and high-Q microresonators. By selectively omitting holes from the two-dimensional photonic crystal, laser cavities and optical resonator switches can be defined. We have designed this structure with a finite diffe:rence time domain (FDTD) approach, and demonstrate some promising d...