Spectral features of the Borrmann effect in 1D photonic crystals in the Laue geometry

Abstract

The Borrmann effect is known as an increase of the X-rays transmission of a perfect crystal in the Laue diffraction scheme when the Bragg diffraction condition are satisfied. Following the trend of the transfer of the X-ray phenomena into the optical spectral range, we experimentally observed and studied the optical analogue of the Borrmann effect for the case of one-dimensional photonic crystals (PhC). For the experiments we made the samples of PhCs based on porous fused silica, which reveal periodical modulation of the refractive index and light absorption. We show that in such structures the Borrmann effect reveals itself as increasing transmission when light propagates through a PhC at the Bragg angle of incidence. Pronounced differences of the Borrmann effect are observed for the PhC structures with light losses concentrated in high or low refractive index layers. The spectral features of the effect are analyzed both experimentally and theoretically.