Quasi Symmetric Moderate Refractive Index Photonic Crystal Waveguides on Mesoporous Substrates

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Manfred Eich
• Subject Area: Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2001 to 2008
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5317168

We propose the research on fundamental aspects of optical wave propagation in thin polymer waveguiding films containing finite two dimensional (2d) photonic crystal lattice structures. We recently found singly index confined wave propagation and stop gaps in such finite 2d photonic crystal slab waveguides made from nanostructured amorphous polymers with a moderate refractive index contrast. The motivation to investigate this novel photonic crystal concept stems from the low intrinsical optical losses in these materials at 1.3µm wavelength (and also at 1.5µm in certain polymers) and from the large mode profiles that can be achieved. These may play a role to keep insertion losses small when such waveguides are coupled to monomode silica fibers in future technical applications. Extending our recent work, the proposed project intends, in the first part, to clarify the influence of geometrical parameters and symmetry on the wave propagation in polymer photonic crystal slab waveguides. Here, we are interested in investigating unperturbed lattices and linear defects. In the second part, we want to clarify under which conditions doubly confined guiding of light waves in photonic crystal polymer slabs is possible. Finally, we plan to investigate optical wave propagation in photonic crystal slabs made from novel electrooptical polymers. For instance, we intend to elucidate the electrooptical tuning potential of narrow band defect states in such structures. For theoretical calculations of our systems we use 3d-finite difference time domain and plane wave methods to investigate the transmission and reflection of waves of different frequencies, polarizations and directions of propagation. We will realize promising low loss structures by electron beam lithography and reacitive ion etching techniques and then characterize them spectroscopically.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1113: Photonic Crystals