Hamburg 2001 – scientific programme

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HL: Halbleiterphysik

HL 21: Photonische Kristalle

HL 21.10: Talk

Tuesday, March 27, 2001, 17:45–18:00, S9/10

Photon focusing in dielectric periodic structures — •Dmitry N. Chigrin and Clivia M. Sotomayor Torres — Institute of Materials Science, Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of Wuppertal, D-42097 Wuppertal, Germany

Dielectric periodic structures (photonic crystals) can possess photonic band gaps, i.e., frequency ranges within which electromagnetic waves cannot propagate. Allowed bands of periodic structures display strong dispersion and anisotropy. This kind of form anisotropy is the origin of a number of interesting optical phenomena otherwise inconceivable in conventional crystals. We consider the effect of a highly anisotropic energy redistribution inside a photonic crystal. We find that the energy flux tends to focus along directions associated with curves of zero Gaussian curvature on isofrequency surfaces. We will present a theoretical study of associated caustics in the intensity of the wave propagating inside the crystal. Results for one- and three-dimensional periodic structures will be reported.