Omnidirectional multilayer device for enhanced optical waveguiding

A microcavity comprising:

• at least one inner core region in which light is confined;
• and
• at least two outer regions surrounding the inner core region, each with a distinct refractive index, said outer regions confining light within said inner core region, wherein
• the refractive indices, the number of outer regions, and thickness of the outer regions result in a reflectivity for a planar geometry that is greater than 95% for all angles of incidence ranging from 0° to at least 80° for all polarizations for a range of wavelengths of said light.

A waveguide which exhibits omnidirectional reflection, comprising:

• at least one dielectric inner core region in which light is confined;
• and
• at least two outer regions comprising dielectric material surrounding the inner core region, each with a distinct refractive index, said outer regions confining light within said inner core region, wherein
• the refractive indices, the number of outer regions, and thickness of the outer regions result in a reflectivity for a planar geometry that is greater than 95% for all angles of incidence ranging from 0° to at least 80° for all polarizations for a range of wavelengths of said light, and
• wherein during operation the outer regions guide the electromagnetic radiation within the dielectric inner core region.

An article comprising:

• a dielectric inner core extending along an axis;
• and
• multiple dielectric layers surrounding the inner core about the axis,
• wherein the multiple dielectric layers define a refractive index variation that produce a range of frequencies for which there is omnidirectional reflection for electromagnetic radiation incident on the multiple dielectric layers from the dielectric inner core, the range of frequencies For which there is omnidirectional reflection being defined from above by an upper frequency ωl, corresponding to a photonic band edge for normally incident electromagnetic radiation and from below by a lower frequency ωl corresponding to an intersection between a photonic band edge for TM electromagnetic radiation and a light line defined by the dielectric inner core.

A waveguide comprising:

• a dielectric inner core extending along a waveguide axis;
• and
• alternating layers of high-index and low-index dielectric materials surrounding the inner core about the waveguide axis to guide electromagnetic radiation along the waveguide axis,
• wherein the refractive index of the dielectric inner core is no, the refractive indices of the high-index and low-index materials are n1 and n2, respectively, the thicknesses of the high-index and low-index layers are h1 and h2, respectively, and n1>n2>n0, and
• wherein the refractive indices and thicknesses cause ωh>ω1, where:
• ω h + 2 ⁢ c h 2 ⁢ n 2 + h 1 ⁢ n 1 ⁢ cos - 1 ⁡ ( - [LeftBracketingBar] n 1 - n 2 n 1 + n 2 [RightBracketingBar] ) , ⁢ ω 1 = 2 ⁢ c h 2 ⁢ n 2 2 - n 0 2 + h ⁢ n 2 2 - n 0 2 ⁢ cos - 1 ⁡ ( [LeftBracketingBar] n 1 2 ⁢ n 2 2 - n 0 2 - n 2 2 ⁢ n 1 2 - n 0 2 n 1 2 ⁢ n 2 2 - n 0 2 + n 2 2 ⁢ n 1 2 - n 0 2 [RightBracketingBar] ) . ( 6 )