Equifrequency surfaces in GaN/sapphire photonic crystals

Photonic crystals are a new class of materials where photonic band gaps, large dispersion and anisotropy occur. By exploiting these properties GaN photonic crystals should have important potential for optoelectronic applications, principally in the areas of high-efficiency light emitters and second-harmonic generators. We present measurements of the equifrequency surfaces of the radiative Bloch modes for a photonic crystal etched in a GaN/sapphire film. The photonic band structure is calculated by using a scattering matrix method that reproduces well the anisotropy of the equifrequency surfaces exhibited by the photonic crystal.