Open AccessSuperlattice for photonic band gap opening in monolayers of dielectric spheres
Author(s) -
Kevin Vynck,
D. Cassagne,
Emmanuel Centeno
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.14.006668
Subject(s) - photonic crystal , superlattice , materials science , dielectric , photonics , nanophotonics , refractive index , optoelectronics , optics , band gap , monolayer , yablonovite , spheres , fabrication , photonic metamaterial , photonic integrated circuit , nanotechnology , physics , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , astronomy
Dielectric spheres synthesized for the fabrication of self-organized photonic crystals such as opals offer large opportunities for the design of novel nanophotonic devices. In this paper, we show that a hexagonal superlattice monolayer of dielectric spheres exhibits an even photonic band gap below the light cone for refractive indices higher than 1.93. The use of spheres with refractive index 2.9 and diameter 0.33 mum tunes the photonic band gap to the telecommunications range (lambda=1.55 mum). As a practical example for the use of such a photonic band gap, we demonstrate the possibility of waveguiding light linearly through the monolayer.