Methods and systems for introducing electromagnetic radiation into photonic crystals
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsKeith A. Nelson, John Joannopoulos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for introducing desired electromagnetic radiation into a photonic crystal having a photonic bandgap and at least one defect, wherein the desired electromagnetic radiation has a frequency within the photonic bandgap. The method includes the steps of: delivering source electromagnetic radiation having an electromagnetic frequency outside the photonic bandgap to the defect; and generating the desired electromagnetic radiation at the defect in response to the source electromagnetic radiation.
Claims35
A method for inducing electromagnetic radiation in a photonic crystal having a periodic variation in dielectric constant sufficient to produce a photonic bandgap for at least one propagation direction and at least one polarization direction, the photonic bandgap defining a frequency range for which electromagnetic radiation at a frequency within the frequency range and having a polarization direction among the at least one polarization direction cannot propagate along the at least one propagation direction, and the photonic crystal having at least one defect in the periodic variation sufficient to support a localized mode of electromagnetic radiation at a frequency within the frequency range of the photonic bandgap, the method comprising the steps of:
- delivering electromagnetic radiation having a frequency outside the frequency range of the photonic bandgap to the defect;
- and
- generating electromagnetic radiation having a frequency within the frequency range of the photonic bandgap at the defect in response to the delivered electromagnetic radiation.
An optical system comprising:
- a photonic crystal having a periodic variation in dielectric constant sufficient to produce a photonic bandgap for at least one propagation direction and at least one polarization direction, the photonic bandgap defining a frequency range for which electromagnetic radiation at a frequency within the frequency range and having a polarization direction among the at least one polarization direction cannot propagate along the at least one propagation direction, and the photonic crystal having at least one defect in the periodic variation sufficient to support a localized mode of electromagnetic radiation at a frequency within the frequency range of the photonic bandgap;
- and
- a source which during operation delivers electromagnetic radiation having a frequency outside the frequency range of the photonic bandgap to the defect, the delivered radiation generating electromagnetic radiation having a frequency within the frequency range of the photonic bandgap at the defect.
A method for detecting electromagnetic radiation confined in a photonic crystal, the photonic crystal having a periodic variation in dielectric constant sufficient to produce a photonic bandgap for at least one propagation direction and at least one polarization direction, the photonic bandgap defining a frequency range for which electromagnetic radiation at a frequency within the frequency range and having a polarization direction among the at least one polarization direction cannot propagate along the at least one propagation direction, and the confined radiation having a frequency within the frequency range of the photonic bandgap and being confined to at least one defect in the periodic variation, the method comprising the steps of:
- directing probe electromagnetic radiation having a frequency outside the frequency range of the photonic bandgap toward the defect;
- generating signal electromagnetic radiation that has a frequency outside the frequency range of the photonic bandgap through an interaction between the probe electromagnetic radiation, the confined electromagnetic radiation, and material in the vicinity of the defect;
- and
- detecting the signal electromagnetic radiation to indicate the presence of the confined electromagnetic radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.