Recent Advances in Photonic Crystals and Metamaterials

Only summary form given. Recent advances in nanophotonic structures covering both photonic crystals (PhC) and metamaterials are reviewed. Useful properties have been obtained from metal-based planar split ring resonator (SRR) structures at infra-red optical frequencies and work is progressing towards the visible spectrum. Here we explore the use of semiconductor substrates which opens the way for the creation of programmable metamaterials where the complex properties, in both their real and imaginary components, may be locally modified electrically or optically. We also present results on the effect of metal choice at mid and near infrared wavelengths and examine the effect of additional in- plane wires on the resonances. Three-dimensionally periodic (3D) photonic crystals that operate in the optical frequency domain have become a concrete reality - and evidence of full photonic bandgap behaviour has been demonstrated reasonably convincingly. Techniques have been developed that make it possible to grow 3D photonic crystal structures over large areas with sufficient perfection to be of interest for some areas of application. Understanding how 3D PhCs can modify the emission of for example cadmium telluride (CdTe) semiconductor nano-dots with emission in the visible can open new device possibilities. The key parameter in the modification of the emission is the extent to which the PhC is infilled. By modifying the infilling procedure it is possible to limit the infill to several layers of the PhC, thereby allowing the rest of the PhC to modify the emission.