Unit:
Department of PhysicsLibrary of the School of Science
Author:
KOURKOULOU AIKATERINI-MARIA
Supervisors info:
Στεφάνου Νικόλαος, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Φυσικής, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
Original Title:
Η Μέθοδος Στρωματικής Πολλαπλής Σκέδασης για Φωτονικούς Κρυστάλλους
Translated title:
The Layer Multiple Scattering Method for Photonic Crystals
Summary:
Photonic crystals are composite materials characterized by a dielectric function which varies periodically in space. This periodicity leads to the appearance of frequency regions over which no propagation of light is possible. The existence of these so-called photonic gaps, as well as the distinctive interaction of photonic crystals and electromagnetic radiation, offer a variety of applications in controlling light propagation and enhancing light-matter interaction. This dissertation develops the layer multiple scattering method for the study of photonic crystals, which is then applied for the calculation of the transmission spectrum of finite multilayered slabs consisting of successive fcc (111) planes of spherical scatterers and the photonic band structure of the respective infinite crystals. Based on the results, fundamental observations are derived concerning the optical response of such structures, like a behavior similar to that of a homogeneous effective medium in the long wavelength limit and the distinctive reflectance peaks for frequencies contained in the photonic gap, while the effect of the number of layers and the dielectric function contrast of the constituent materials on the transmission spectrum and the frequency bands is also discussed.
Main subject category:
Science
Keywords:
photonic gap, photonic band structure, transmission spectrum, effective medium approximation
