Abstract
We employ the concepts of band theory to describe the behavior of electromagnetic waves in three dimensionally periodic face-centered-cubic (fcc) dielectric structures. This can produce a ‘‘photonic band gap’’ in which optical modes, spontaneous emission, and zero-point fluctuations are all absent. In the course of a broad experimental survey, we have found that most fcc dielectric structures have ‘‘semimetallic’’ band structure. Nevertheless, we have identified one particular dielectric ‘‘crystal’’ which actually has a ‘‘photonic band gap.’’ This dielectric structure, consisting of 86% empty space, requires a refractive index contrast greater than 3 to 1, which happens to be readily obtainable in semiconductor materials.
- Received 25 July 1989
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.63.1950
©1989 American Physical Society
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Letters from the Past - A PRL Retrospective
2008 marked PRL’s 50th anniversary. As part of the celebrations a collection of milestone Letters was started. The collection contains Letters that have made long-lived contributions to physics, either by announcing significant discoveries, or by initiating new areas of research.
