Photonic crystals & metamaterial filters based on 2d arrays of silicon nanopillars

H. Butt*, Q. Dai, T. D. Wilkinson, G. A J Amaratunga

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Highly dense two-dimensional periodic arrays of nanoscaled silicon pillars present interesting photonic band gaps and the capacity to act as photonic crystals which can mould, manipulate and guide light. We demonstrate finite element modelling of silicon pillars based photonic crystals and their effective use in applications like waveguides, optical power dividers, multiplexers and switches. The optical wave propagation through these structures was thoroughly simulated and analysed, confirming their high efficiency. The band gaps studied through the plane wave expansion method are also presented. Later the fabrication of highly periodic two-dimensional arrays of silicon pillars through the process of etching is also explained. The arrays with pillar radius of 50nm and lattice constant of 400nm were successfully utilised as photonic crystal waveguides and their measured results are reported. Moreover, the silicon nanopillars sputtered with noble metals can also display artificial optical properties and act as metamaterials due to the mutual plasmonic coupling effects. We report the theoretical results for the silicon nanopillars based metamaterial high-passflter.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)179-194
Number of pages16
JournalProgress In Electromagnetics Research
Volume113
Publication statusPublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Radiation
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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