Experimental observation of intrinsic light localization in photonic icosahedral quasicrystals

TL;DR

This paper reports the first experimental observation of intrinsic light localization in defect-free icosahedral quasicrystals, demonstrating how aperiodicity causes multiple scattering and light confinement within these structures.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental verification of light localization in defect-free icosahedral quasicrystals, confirming theoretical predictions.

Findings

First direct observation of light localization in defect-free quasicrystals

Localization linked to aperiodicity causing multiple scattering

Demonstrated in time-resolved measurements across visible wavelengths

Abstract

One of the most intriguing problems of light transport in solids is the localization that has been observed in various disordered photonic structures1-11. The light localization in defect-free icosahedral quasicrystals has recently been predicted theoretically without experimental verification10. Here we report on the fabrication of submicron-size dielectric icosahedral quasicrystals and demonstrate the results of detailed studies of the photonic properties of these structures. Here, we present the first direct experimental observation of intrinsic light localization in defect-free quasicrystals. This result was obtained in time-resolved measurements at different laser wavelengths in the visible. We linked localization with the aperiodicity of the icosahedral structure, which led to uncompensated scattering of light from an individual structural element over the entire sphere, providing multiple scattering inside the sample and, as a result, the intrinsic localization of light.