Influence of parameters on light propagation dynamics in optically induced planar waveguide arrays

Abstract

The diffraction and refraction of light beam in optical periodic structures can be determined by the photonic band-gap structures of spatial frequency. In this paper, by employing the equation governing the nonlinear light propagations in photorefractive crystals, we study the photonic band-gap structures, Bloch modes, and light transmission properties of optically induced planar waveguide arrays. The relationship between the photonic band-gap structures and the light diffraction characteristics is discussed in detail. Then the influence of the parameters of planar waveguide arrays on the band-gaps structures, Bloch modes, and linear light transmissions is analyzed. It is revealed that the linear light transmission properties of waveguide arrays are tightly related to the diffraction relationships determined by band-gap structures. And the Bloch modes corresponding to different transmission bands can be excited by different excitation schemes. Both the increases of the intensity and the period of the array writing beam will lead to the broadening of the forbidden gaps and the concentration of the energy of the Bloch modes to the high-index regions. Furthermore, the broadening of the forbidden gaps will lead to separation and transition between the Bloch modes of neighboring bands around the Bragg angle. Additionally, with the increase of the intensity of the array writing beams, the influences from light intensity will tend to be steady due to the saturation of the photorefractive effect.