Embedded two-photon polymerized features with near-perfect lattice registration within self-organized photonic crystals and their optical properties

TL;DR

This paper presents a method for precisely embedding defects within 3D photonic crystals using two-photon polymerization, enabling accurate defect placement and improved control over optical properties.

Contribution

The work introduces a technique for near-perfect lattice registration of embedded defects in photonic crystals during two-photon polymerization.

Findings

Defects can be positioned with high precision within photonic crystals.

Embedded planar cavities exhibit tunable optical properties based on defect placement.

Experimental spectra align with theoretical calculations, confirming placement accuracy.

Abstract

Two-photon polymerization has been demonstrated as an effective technique to define embedded defects in three-dimensional photonic crystals. In this work we demonstrate the ability to precisely position embedded defects with respect to the lattice of three-dimensional photonic crystals by imaging the structure concurrently with two-photon writing. Defects are written with near-perfect lattice registration and at specifically defined depths within the crystal. The importance of precise defect position is demonstrated by investigating the optical properties of embedded planar cavities written in a photonic crystal. The experimental data is compared to spectra calculated using the Scalar Wave Approximation (SWA) which further demonstrates the importance of defect placement.