Open AccessUltra-sparse dielectric nanowire grids as wideband reflectors and polarizers
Author(s) -
Jae Woong Yoon,
Kyu Jin Lee,
Robert Magnusson
Publication year - 2015
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.23.028849
Subject(s) - polarizer , wideband , optics , polarization (electrochemistry) , nanowire , extinction ratio , materials science , duty cycle , reflection coefficient , reflection (computer programming) , dielectric , photonic crystal , transmission coefficient , fresnel equations , refractive index , physics , optoelectronics , transmission (telecommunications) , voltage , telecommunications , wavelength , chemistry , birefringence , quantum mechanics , computer science , programming language
Engaging both theory and experiment, we investigate resonant photonic lattices in which the duty cycle tends to zero. Corresponding dielectric nanowire grids are mostly empty space if operated as membranes in vacuum or air. These grids are shown to be effective wideband reflectors with impressive polarizing properties. We provide computed results predicting nearly complete reflection and attendant polarization extinction in multiple spectral regions. Experimental results with Si nanowire arrays with 10% duty cycle show ~200-nm-wide band of high reflection for one polarization state and free transmission for the orthogonal state. These results agree quantitatively with theoretical predictions. It is fundamentally extremely significant that the wideband spectral expressions presented can be generated in these minimal systems.