Ultrasensitive optical reflectivity in annular nanohole array on Photonic crystal slab based on bound states in the continuum

Abstract

We investigate optical bound states in the continuum (BICs) supported by a photonic crystal (PhC) slab penetrated with periodic annular holes theoretically. Ultrahigh-quality factor (Q-factor) resonances associated with BICs are obtained with a Q-factor more than 108. The BICs can be seen at nonzero incident angles by tuning the lattice constant, layer thickness, inner pillar radius and the refractive index of the surrounding medium, and figure of merit (FOM) at the BICs can reach infinite theoretically. New Fano resonance line appears with BICs when the annular hole’s symmetry is broken, which can be attributed to the change of the waveguide modes and their coupling when the annular hole shape is asymmetrical. We confirm it by tuning the inner pillars’ location and size to realize the structure’s asymmetry. It is shown the location and size asymmetry of the inner pillars inside each outer hole can impact the reflectivity and the formation of the BICs obviously. Results from finite difference time domain method (FDTD) simulation and temporal coupled mode theory (CMT) calculations agree well, which are beneficial to design elements based on optical BICs in various applications, such as biosensors, perfect filters, and waveguides.