Recent Progress in Photonic Crystal Devices and Their Applications: A Review

Abstract

The research field of photonic crystals (PhCs) remains active on a global scale. PhCs, which are periodic optical nanostructures with the characteristics of excellent light field confinement and numerous varying degrees of freedom, provide a solid foundation for controlling the movement of light. Periodic variation of the index of refraction in two or three spatial dimensions with a substantial high-to-low ratio generates a number of intriguing phenomena and enables a variety of potential functionalities. Recently, intriguing devices based on PhCs, such as Y-branches, small-diameter bent waveguides, and miniature resonator cavities, have been proposed and extensively utilized. PhC waveguides are considered ideal candidates for a variety of applications, such as in power splitters, logic gates, sensing and communication fields, etc. These exceptional characteristics may facilitate the development of a dense integrated circuit. However, PhC technology is still relatively new and therefore requires additional effort to fully exploit it. This paper reviews the most popular and essential optical components based on PhCs, including power splitters, modulators, polarization maintaining devices, sensors, and lasers, to summarize the most recent developments relating this hot topic. These devices have superior performance and a smaller footprint compared to conventional photonic devices.

Experimental Observation of Surface Wave States at the Gold–Silver Interface

“…[9], the new kind of "gradient" surface electromagnetic waves, which are experimentally observed in this work, may exist in experimental domains (such as UV nanophotonic devices) which are currently not accessible to more conventional plasmonic nanophotonic devices. Thus, our work further extends the boundaries of the fastmoving field of novel optical materials which has experienced numerous exciting recent advances [21][22][23][24][25][26]. In particular, optical losses appear to be one of the main obstacles for the broader implementation of photonic crystal, plasmonic and optical metamaterial devices-see refs.…”

“…In particular, optical losses appear to be one of the main obstacles for the broader implementation of photonic crystal, plasmonic and optical metamaterial devices-see refs. [23][24][25][26]. Theoretical prediction that "gradient" surface waves exist even in high-loss situations opens up a broad range of new materials available for metamaterial design.…”

Optimization of Optical Biosensor Based on 1D Photonic Crystals with Metaheuristic Algorithms for Measuring Glucose Concentration

“…Therefore, according to their structure and capabilities in light control, photonic crystals can be used through methods such as checking the changes in the refractive index and the thickness of the defect layer, changes in the transmission and reflection spectrum, changes in the wavelength and resonance frequency, checking the surface absorption and changing the thickness of the absorber layer be used as a biosensor in various sciences. [6][7][8][9] The position of the peak in the transmission or reflection spectrum is sensitive to the refractive index. Therefore, the photonic crystal can be used as a biosensor to measure the change in refractive index.…”