| Photonic crystals
have attracted a great deal of interest due to their unique ability
to control and redirect the flow of light. In general, photonic
crystals are a periodic distribution of one material in a different
host material. Slight differences in this periodic distribution,
i.e., small changes in the size or material, can drastically change
the dispersive properties of the photonic crystal. These crystals
may be the very things required in order to achieve integrated optical
devices in chips.
Photonic crystal waveguide can be created with a single line,
or even several lines, of defect. These waveguides manipulate
the movement of light very efficiently; since light cannot propagate
through the photonic crystals, it is restricted to moving through
the photonic bandgaps created by these lines of defect, thus conforming
to the shape as dictated by the waveguide.
Two-dimensional photonic crystal wavguides, due to their planar
structure, have special appeal for applications because sophisticated
semiconductor fabrication technique can be readily adapted. Furthermore,
extremely miniaturized planar light, wave circuits, and devices
consisting of a variety of waveguides (such as bent, branching
and crossing waveguides), can be achieved.
|
