Photonic Band Gaps in 3D Network Structures with Short-range Order

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that 3D photonic amorphous structures with short-range order and tetrahedral connectivity can produce broad, isotropic photonic band gaps, expanding possibilities for optical materials without long-range periodicity.

Contribution

It reveals that tetrahedral connectivity and local uniformity are key to forming isotropic PBGs in 3D amorphous photonic structures, a novel insight into disorder-based photonic design.

Findings

Tetrahedral networks yield the largest isotropic PBGs.

Local order is crucial for PBG formation.

Broad PBGs can exist without long-range order.

Abstract

We present a systematic study of photonic band gaps (PBGs) in three-dimensional (3D) photonic amorphous structures (PAS) with short-range order. From calculations of the density of optical states (DOS) for PAS with different topologies, we find that tetrahedrally connected dielectric networks produce the largest isotropic PBGs. Local uniformity and tetrahedral order are essential to the formation of PBGs in PAS, in addition to short-range geometric order. This work demonstrates that it is possible to create broad, isotropic PBGs for vector light fields in 3D PAS without long-range order.