Disorder-induced modification of the transmission of light through two-dimensional photonic crystals

• Published in: Journal of physics. Condensed matter Vol. 17; no. 12; pp. 1781 - 1790
• Main Authors: Beggs, D M, Kaliteevski, M A, Abram, R A, Cassagne, D, Albert, J P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 30.03.2005; Institute of Physics; IOP Publishing [1989-....]
• Subjects: Condensed Matter; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Materials Science; Optical materials; Optics; Photonic bandgap materials; Physics; Two-dimensional systems; Photonic band gap; Localized states; Reflection spectrum; Photonic crystals; Absorption spectra; Electromagnetic fields; Electronic density of states; EXISTENCE; BAND-GAP; 2 DIMENSIONS
• ISSN: 0953-8984; 1361-648X
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/17/12/002

Disordered two-dimensional photonic crystals with a complete photonic band-gap have been investigated. Transmission and reflection spectra have been modelled for both ballistic and scattered light. The density of states and electromagnetic field profiles of disorder-induced localized states have also been calculated, for various levels of disorder. It is found that there is a threshold-like behaviour in the amount of disorder. Below the threshold, it is seen that there is a vanishing probability of disorder-induced localized states being introduced into the centre of the photonic band-gap, but that edge-states narrow the band-gap. Above the threshold, there is a non-zero probability of disorder-induced localized states throughout the photonic band-gap, and the modification of the transmission and reflection spectra due to disorder rapidly increases with increasing disorder.