One-dimensional Photonic Crystal Research Articles

Cellulose nanocrystal/graphene oxide one-dimensional photonic crystal film with excellent UV-blocking and transparency

Achieving excellent ultraviolet (UV) blocking properties and maintaining high light transmittance are highly challenging. In this study, a facile and green polymer-assisted vacuum filtration strategy was used to prepare cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPhC) films with excellent UV-blocking performance and good transparency. The polymer-assisted self-assembly behaviors of CNC and the hydrogen bonding interaction between CNC, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and graphene oxide (GO) drive the homogeneous distribution and parallel alignment of GO. The UV absorption of GO and high reflection of UV resulting from the chiral nematic structure of CNCs result in excellent UV-blocking and high visible light transmission. Besides, the strong hydrogen bonding interaction among CNC, PEG, and GO endows the films with obviously increased mechanical properties. The UV-blocking and the transparency of the CNC composite films could reach 98.3 % and 60.5 %, respectively. Besides, the strain at break of the composite film reached 1.72 ± 0.11 %, which was 535.94 % of neat CNC films. The CNC composite films present great potential in the field of UV-blocking glass, sensors, anti-counterfeiting measures, radiation protection, and so on.

Annular one-dimensional photonic crystals for salinity sensing

The use of annular one-dimensional (1D) photonic crystals (PCs) for salinity sensing is studied in this research. Annular 1D-PCs provide small and integrated structures that facilitate the creation of portable and miniaturized sensor equipment appropriate for field use. In order to generate annular 1D-PCs, the research explores the finite element method (FEM) simulation technique utilizing the COMSOL Multiphysics approach, highlighting the significance of exact control over layer thickness and uniformity. Furthermore, we construct a 1D annular PCs structure in the form {(AB)}^{N}, where A is silicon (Si) and B is silicon dioxide ({SiO}_{2}) of 40 nm and 70 nm, respectively, with a number of periods equal to 9. By incorporating a central defect layer of saline water (220 nm thickness), the sensor achieves optimum performance at normal incidence with a sensitivity (S) of 782 (nm/RIU), a quality factor (Q) of 10.22, and a figure of merit (FOM) of 12.6 {RIU}^{-1}. The design that is suggested has several advantages over past work on planners and annular 1D-PCs, including ease of implementation, performance at normal incidence, and high sensitivity.

From Bloch surface waves to cavity-mode resonances reaching an ultrahigh sensitivity and a figure of merit

We report on a new sensing concept based on resonances supported by a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPhC) microcavity resonator in the Kretschmann configuration. For a 1DPhC comprising six bilayers of TiO2/SiO2 with a termination layer of TiO2 employed to form a microcavity, we show that when the angle of incidence is changed, the Bloch surface waves (BSWs) can be transformed into cavity-mode resonances exhibiting an ultrahigh sensitivity and a figure of merit. Using wavelength interrogation, we demonstrate that Bloch surface TE wave excitation shows up as a sharp dip in the reflectance spectrum with a sensitivity and a figure of merit (FOM) of 70 nm per refractive index unit (RIU) and 19.5 RIU−1, respectively. When the angle of incidence decreases, cavity-mode resonances for both TE and TM waves are resolved for RI in a range of 1.0001–1.0005. The sensitivity and FOM can reach 52,300 nm/RIU and 402,300 RIU−1 for the TE wave, and 14,000 nm/RIU and 2154 RIU−1 for the TM wave, respectively. In addition, resonances are confirmed experimentally for a humid air with a sensitivity of 0.073 nm per percent of the relative humidity (%RH) for BSW resonance and is enhanced to 1.367 nm/%RH for the TM cavity-mode resonance. This research, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, is the first demonstration of a new BSW-like response that can be utilized in a simple sensing of a wide range of gaseous analytes.

Multi-band all-silicon TM-pass polarizer based on one-dimensional photonic crystals nanohole array

We propose an on-chip transverse magnetic (TM)-pass polarizer utilizing one-dimensional photonic crystals for multi-band operation. The TE0 modes in the 1550/2000nm wave band are suppressed by carefully selecting the pitch lengths of the nanoholes, leveraging the bandgap of the nanohole array. Conversely, the TM0 modes remain almost unaffected. The TM-pass polarizer employs a single-etched design on a standard 220 nm SOI platform and has a compact length of ∼ 17.9 µm. The simulated bandwidths (BWs) for polarization extinction ratios (PERs) > 20 dB and > 25 dB are about 210 nm and 195 nm for the 1550 nm wave band, and 265 nm and 240 nm for the 2000nm wave band. Moreover, the insertion losses (ILs) are ∼ 0.5/0.3 dB at wavelengths of 1550/2000nm, respectively. For the fabricated device, the measured BWs for PER > 20 dB and > 25 dB are evaluated to be larger than 100 nm for both 1550/2000nm wave bands. The measured ILs are 1/0.8 dB at wavelengths of 1550/2000nm. This straightforward and compatible design opens possibilities for the development of practical multi-band silicon photonic integrated circuits.

Quasi-TPPs/Fano resonance systems based on an MDM waveguide structure and its sensing application.

In this paper, quasi-Tamm plasmon polaritons (TPPs)/Fano resonance systems based on metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) waveguides are proposed. TPPs are surface electromagnetic modes formed at the interface between a metal and a one-dimensional dielectric photonic crystal (PhC). A metal plasmonic Bragg reflector (PBR) in a MDM waveguide is equivalent to a dielectric PhC, which is realized by periodic MDM waveguide width modulation and leads to the photonic bandgap. By introducing a thin Ag baffle and a PBR in MDM waveguide core, the quasi-TPPs are excited at the interface between the Ag baffle and the PBR, when the phase-matching condition is met. The proposed structure can be fabricated with focused ion beam or electron beam direct-writing lithography, avoiding complex fabrication procedures of manufacturing dielectric PhC by filling the MDM waveguide core with different dielectric materials. Furthermore, an MDM waveguide side-coupled resonator system is constructed to generate Fano resonance by placing a PBR on the side of the MDM waveguide and an Ag baffle in the waveguide core. The Fano resonance originates from the interference between a broad continuum state provided by the Ag baffle and a discrete state provided by quasi-TPPs. The sensing performance of the Fano resonance system is investigated. In this design, the open PBR structure replaces the traditional closed resonant cavity, which makes it more convenient to contact with analytes. The numerical simulations demonstrate that a high sensitivity of 1500nm/RIU and figure of merit value of 4.08×105 are achieved.

Nonreciprocal propagation of optical pulses in a one-dimensional photonic crystal with two Weyl semimetal-based defects

We investigated the nonreciprocal propagation properties of an optical pulse in a one-dimensional photonic crystal containing Weyl semimetal-based defect layers. High optical nonreciprocity, without the need for high-intensity input light sources or external magnetic fields, is the most essential property of the Weyl semimetal. The transfer matrix and Fourier transform techniques are used to obtain the time envelopes of the transmitted pulses. It is demonstrated that the transmitted pulse may attain two different time envelopes by reversing the impinging direction of the input pulse. Then, the effects of the input pulse carrier frequency and time width on the characteristics of the transmitted pulse are presented and shown that reversing the impinging direction of the input pulse has a significant effect on the length and energy of the transmitted pulse. The results may have applications in designing pulse-shaping filters and transferring digital data.

Ultra-high sensitive cancerous cells detection and sensing capabilities of photonic biosensor

The ultra-high sensitive cancer cell detection capabilities of one-dimensional photonic crystal with defect have been theoretically examined in this work. The simulations of the work have been carried out with MATLAB programming and transfer matrix method. The performance of the proposed biosensor loaded separately with samples containing different cancer cells has been studied by changing the period number, defect layer thickness, and incident angle corresponding to s polarized light only to identify the parameters under which the proposed design becomes ultra-sensitive. The working principle of the proposed biosensor is to sense the minute change in the refractive index of the analytes containing different cancer cells of human. This sensing is done shifting the respective defect mode inside photonic band gap of the structure from one position to other near by position due to change in the refractive index of sample under consideration. Our structure under optimum conditions yields maximum shifting in the position of defect mode from 1538 to 1648 nm corresponding to the samples containing normal and Glioblastoma cells of refractive indices 1.350 and 1.4470 respectively which results a ultra-high sensitivity of 4270.525928 nm/RIU.

Detection of anti-SARS CoV-2 antibodies in human serum by means of Bloch surface waves on 1D photonic crystal biochips

This study presents the development and characterization of a disposable biochip for the detection of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, a well-known target for vaccine and therapeutic development. This biochip is based on a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC) deposited on a plastic substrate and designed to sustain Bloch surface waves (BSW) in the visible range. The experimental phase was carried out using the biochip in conjunction with a custom-made optical read-out platform capable of real-time refractometric detection and fluorescence-based end-point measurements. Our biochip was functionalized by immobilizing the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein onto the surface using a silanization process. Human serum samples, including a negative control and a positive sample from a recovered COVID-19 patient, were tested on the biochip. The experimental results show that the biochip discriminates between positive and negative samples in a label-free refractometric mode down to a 1:10 dilution of the sera and in quantum dot amplified refractometric and fluorescence mode down to 1:100 dilution. The results demonstrate the potential of the disposable biochip for sensitive and specific detection of COVID-19 antibodies.

One-dimensional porous silicon photonic crystals for chemosensors: Geometrical factors influencing the sensitivity

One-dimensional photonic crystals with microcavity were prepared to be used as optical chemosensors. The experimental reflectance of the as-etched devices immersed in solvent solutions appear greater than the theoretical one. The fitting procedure of the experimental data using the transfer matrix method together with the Looyenga effective medium approach reveals that the deviation of the experimental data occurs because of the expansion-contraction effect of the high and low porosity layers, respectively, caused by the presence of the solvent into the porous matrix and is proportional to the solvent effective refractive index. Due to this phenomenon, the sensitivity of the as-etched photonic crystals increases about two times but is not stable because of the aging effect. To avoid this effect, the photonic crystal structures were passivated by thermally silicon oxide growing, gold thin film and titanium oxide deposition. After thermal treatment in an air environment, the optical response achieves its stabilization even after long storage times, thus showing the importance of the passivation procedure. Among them, the passivation by TiO2 shows better performance and lower loss in sensitivity in comparison to the as-etched devices.

Engineering the visible light absorption of one-dimensional photonic crystals based on multilayers of Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films

Engineering the visible light absorption of one-dimensional photonic crystals based on multilayers of Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films

Ultra-sensitive pressure sensing capabilities of defective one-dimensional photonic crystal

Present research work deals with the extremely sensitive pressure-sensing capabilities of defective one-dimensional photonic crystal structure (GaP/SiO2)N/Al2O3/(GaP/SiO2)N. The proposed structure is realized by putting a defective layer of material Al2O3 in the middle of a structure consisting of alternating layers of GaP and SiO2. The transfer matrix method has been employed to examine the transmission characteristics of the proposed defective one-dimensional photonic crystal in addition to MATLAB software. An external application of the hydrostatic pressure on the proposed structure is responsible for the change in the position and intensity of defect mode inside the photonic band gap of the structure due to pressure-dependent refractive index properties of the materials being used in the design of the sructure. Additionally, the dependence of the transmission properties of the structure on other parameters like incident angle and defect layer thickness has also studied. The theoretical obtained numeric values of the quality factor and sensitivity are 17,870 and 72 nm/GPa respectively. These results are enough to support our claim that the present design can be used as an ultra-sensitive pressure sensor.

Direct competitive assay for HER2 detection in human plasma using Bloch surface wave-based biosensors

The overexpression and/or amplification of the HER2/neu oncogene has been proposed as a prognostic marker in breast cancer. The detection of the related peptide HER2 remains a grand challenge in cancer diagnosis and for therapeutic decision-making. Here, we used a biosensing device based on Bloch Surface Waves excited on a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC) as valid alternative to standard techniques. The 1DPC was optimized to operate in the visible spectrum and the biosensor optics has been designed to combine label-free and fluorescence operation modes. This feature enables a real-time monitoring of a direct competitive assay using detection mAbs conjugated with quantum dots for an accurate discrimination in fluorescence mode between HER2-positive/negative human plasma samples. Such a competitive assay was implemented using patterned alternating areas where HER2-Fc chimera and reference molecules were bio-conjugated and monitored in a multiplexed way. By combining Label-Free and fluorescence detection analysis, we were able to tune the parameters of the assay and provide an HER2 detection in human plasma in less than 20 min, allowing for a cost-effective assay and rapid turnaround time. The proposed approach offers a promising technique capable of performing combined label-free and fluorescence detection for both diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of diseases.

Photonic Crystal Surface Modes for Trapping and Waveguiding of Ultracold Atoms.

The design of a photonic system for the trapping and waveguiding of ultracold atoms far above a dielectric surface is proposed and analyzed. The system consists of an optical rib waveguide deposited on a planar one-dimensional photonic crystal, which sustains two wavelengths of photonic crystal surface modes tuned in the red and blue sides relative to the atomic transition of the neutral atom. The addition of a third blue-tuned wavelength to the system allows the neutral atoms to be stabilized in the lateral dimension above the rib waveguide. Trapping atoms at relatively large distances, more than 600 nm above the dielectric surface, allows to reduce the influence of Casimir-Polder forces in this system. The detailed design methodology and specifications of the photonic system are provided. The presented design can be employed in atomic chips and quantum sensors.

Phase time delay caused by quantum effects in nearby plasmonic nanostructures of a one-dimensional photonic crystal

A one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC) incorporated with a defect layer containing a four-level double V-type quantum system adjacent to a plasmonic nanostructure is employed to investigate the Hartman effect. The study involves the interaction of two orthogonal circularly polarized laser beams with the defect layer, possessing identical frequencies but vary in phase and electric field amplitude. The defect layer exhibits quantum system adjacent to plasmonic nanostructure and field interaction phenomena like optical transparency, nonzero dispersion with zero absorption, gain without inversion, and others related effects. By manipulating the phase of the driving fields and probe detuning, the 1DPC can function as either a positive index material (PIM) or a negative index material (NIM), correlating to the normal and anomalous dispersion of the defect layer, respectively. The positive and negative Hartman effects for PIM and NIM, respectively, can be observed by adjusting the relative phase with respect to the driving fields. Our suggested approach might be used in optical memory, all-optical switching, all-optical routing, and interferometry.

Surface plasmon resonance based sensor using one-dimensional photonic crystal

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based sensor is presented for the optical sensing that employs one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC). An interface of a metal and 1DPC is utilized to excite the surface plasmon-polariton (SPP) waves using prism-coupling. The 1DPC is made up of a bilayer structure of two different dielectric materials. The excited SPP waves are utilized to sense a small change in the refractive index of the dielectric material. A very simple and compact design is proposed for the optical sensing of the dielectric material. A p-polarized plane wave is incident from the metal side and the change in the refractive index of the dielectric material is observed by computing the corresponding change in the incidence angle of excitation of the SPP wave. Absorptance peaks are shifting with a small change in the refractive index of the dielectric materials. It is observed that by changing the refractive index of the prism sensitivity changes with an inverse relation. The power density of the proposed sensor is limited to the metal and 1DPC interface which is the manifestation of the excitation of the SPP wave at that interface. Better results of sensitivity are achieved using this simple design of metal and 1DPC.

The transmittance properties of the one-dimensional gyroidal superconductor photonic crystals

Abstract In this study, the transfer matrix method is used to analyze the optical properties of a layered structure, {Air(SrTiO3/BSCCO)20Substrate}, consisting of air, SrTiO3, BSCCO (bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide) bilayers, and a substrate. This paper aims to investigate the transmittance spectra of two proposed one-dimensional (1D) structures, including a conventional superconductor photonic crystal (PC) and a gyroidal superconductor PC at infrared (IR) wavelengths. A comprehensive analysis has been carried out to provide useful insights into the optical properties and the behavior of the proposed structure, highlighting the impact of many parameters, such as refractive index, filling fraction, and layer thickness. The numerical findings showed that the permittivity of the BSCCO superconductor of a gyroidal geometry takes a different response compared to the conventional one. Notably, the filling fraction and refractive index of the host material have a significant control on both real and imaginary parts of the gyroidal BSCCO permittivity through the considered wavelengths. Thus, the proposed design provides high transmittivity outside the obtained photonic band gap compared to the conventional one. We believe that the designed one-dimensional gyroidal BSCCO photonic crystals could act as an efficient reflector through near IR for optoelectronics and energy applications.

Photonic eigenmodes and transmittance of finite-length 1D cholesteric liquid crystal resonators

Cholesteric liquid crystals exhibit a periodic helical structure that partially reflects light with wavelengths comparable to the period of the structure, thus performing as a one-dimensional photonic crystal. Here, we demonstrate a combined experimental and numerical study of light transmittance spectra of finite-length helical structure of cholesteric liquid crystals, as affected by the main system and material parameters, as well as the corresponding eigenmodes and frequency eigenspectra with their Q-factors. Specifically, we have measured and simulated transmittance spectra of samples with different thicknesses, birefringences and for various incident light polarisation configurations as well as quantified the role of refractive index dispersion and the divergence of the incident light beam on transmittance spectra. We identify the relation between transmittance spectra and the eigenfrequencies of the photonic eigenmodes. Furthermore, we present and visualize the geometry of these eigenmodes and corresponding Q-factors. More generally, this work systematically studies the properties of light propagation in a one-dimensional helical cholesteric liquid crystal birefringent profile, which is known to be of interest for the design of micro-lasers and other soft matter photonic devices.

Low-threshold bistable absorption in asymmetrical one-dimensional photonic crystals containing Weyl semimetal defects

Low-threshold bistable absorption in asymmetrical one-dimensional photonic crystals containing Weyl semimetal defects

Strong polarization-dependent photonic bandgap and giant photonic spin Hall effect in a one-dimensional photonic crystal entirely composed of all-dielectric metamaterials

In conventional one-dimensional (1-D) photonic crystals (PhCs) consisting of isotropic dielectrics, photonic bandgaps (PBGs) exhibit weak polarization-dependent property since the propagating phase of the isotropic dielectric film is polarization-independent. The weak polarization-dependent property of PBGs intensively impedes the potential application of 1-D PhCs in the photonic spin Hall effect (PSHE). Herein, we investigate the polarization-dependent property of PBGs in a class of 1-D PhCs entirely consisting of all-dielectric elliptical metamaterials (EMMs) called all-EMM 1-D PhCs. Driven by the combination of 1-D PhCs and all-dielectric EMMs, strong polarization-dependent PBGs can be realized. Then, we exploit the strong polarization-dependent PBG to achieve giant PSHE. The enhanced transverse shift of the PSHE reaches the order of 102 μm. Our work not only establishes a bridge between PhCs and all-dielectric metamaterials, but also paves a new route to manipulating polarization of light.

Spectral barcode based on one-dimensional photonic crystal with continuous refractive index modulation

This paper demonstrates an example of optical information encoding using the spectral response of a photonic crystal. The spectral dependence of the reflection coefficient of a one-dimensional photonic crystal reproduces the sequence of the EAN-13 standard barcode. An algorithm for building the structure of a photonic crystal based on a given encoded sequence of 12 digits was developed. This structure was experimentally implemented, its spectral response allows to decode the original encoded sequence.