Scattering from controlled defects in woodpile photonic crystals

TL;DR

This paper investigates how controlled defects in 3D woodpile photonic crystals affect light scattering, providing insights into defect-induced optical perturbations and improving the understanding of defect roles in photonic materials.

Contribution

It introduces a method to model defect scattering in photonic crystals by comparing disordered and regular structures, advancing defect control in photonic material design.

Findings

Defects cause measurable light scattering and extinction.

Modeling defect scattering improves understanding of optical perturbations.

Controlled defect introduction enables tailored photonic properties.

Abstract

Photonic crystals with a sufficiently high refractive index contrast display partial or full band gaps. However, imperfections in the metamaterial cause light scattering and extinction of the interfering propagating waves. Positive as well as negative defect volumes may contribute to this kind of optical perturbation. In this study, we fabricate and characterize three-dimensional woodpile photonic crystals, with a pseudo-bandgap for near-infrared optical wavelengths. By direct laser writing, we intentionally introduce random defects in the periodic structure. We show that we can model random defect scattering by considering the difference between the disordered and the regular structure. Our findings pave the way towards better control and understanding of the role of defects in photonic materials that will be crucial for their usability in potential applications.