Heidelberg 1999 – scientific programme

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Q: Quantenoptik

Q 38: Poster: Nichtlineare Optik

Q 38.2: Poster

Thursday, March 18, 1999, 16:30–18:30, PH

Tunable Photonic Crystals — •Kurt Busch and Sajeev John — Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Canada

The effect of anisotropic materials on the band structure of Photonic Crystals is analyzed. In particular, it is demonstrated that birefringent materials such as nematic liquid crystals may be utilized to tune the photonic band structure and the density of states of readily available Photonic Crystals. Furthermore, results on Faraday-active materials and materials that exhibit natural optical activity are presented. In essence, such structures provide a tunable coloured vacuum and thus novel possibilities for the realization of optical devices as well as for the investigation of radiation dynamics of active materials arise.