Design of a Wavelength Selective Medium by Graded Index Photonic Crystals

In this paper, a novel technique for spatial wavelength division using graded index photonic crystals (GRIN PCs) is proposed. The designed GRIN PC structure with hyperbolic-secant refractive index profile at a fixed frequency generates spatial shifts in the longitudinal direction with respect to different incident wavelengths so that distinct path trajectories are followed by propagating beams through the graded medium. Due to gradual variation of the refractive index profile (incremental decrease), an incident beam with an appropriately selected wavelength undergoes continuing refraction and finally, total internal reflection (TIR) occurs at the turning point. Due to the wavelength-dependency characteristic of GRIN PCs, TIR takes place at different positions for different wavelengths and thus, light wave emanates from the GRIN medium at different locations with different exit angles. It is revealed that the designed structure can work in three distinct frequency regimes and is able to separate a certain number of incident beams with different wavelengths, viz. from three to seven different wavelengths. This condition enables the deployment of the GRIN PC configuration for the design of wavelength selective media.