Photonic band gaps from metallo-dielectric spheres

Abstract

Joint theoretical and experimental efforts are launched to study the optical properties of photonic band-gap systems constructed with spheres containing a metal core or metallic coating. Using a multiple scattering method, we show that there can be photonic band gaps in different types of periodic structures as long as the sphere filling ratio exceeds a certain minimum. We have experimentally realized photonic crystals in the microwave regime, with the measured results in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions.