Optical Characteristics of Two-Dimensional Photonic Crystals in Anodic Aluminum Oxide Films

Abstract

The optical properties of two-dimensional photonic crystals (PhCs) in anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) films obtained using a simple and low-cost pre-patterning procedure are described. The prepatterning of the initial Al film surface was carried out by imprinting with an optical diffraction grating; the anodization of the prepatterned sample led to the formation of a good quality, large-area PhC with a triangular lattice of air holes (lattice period a=0.48 µm, hole radius r=0.2 µm) in an AAO film. The optical transmission spectra of the sample were measured at visible wavelengths in the range of 0.4–1.0 µm for various incidence angles and linear polarizations of the probing light. The detailed analysis of the transmission data indicates a photonic band gap in the 0.9–1.0 µm wavelength range for light waves linearly polarized in the direction perpendicular to the axes of PhC pores.