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Spectral and Angle-Resolved Magneto-Optical Characterization of Photonic Nanostructures
Published on: November 21, 2019
Optical Tamm states in one-dimensional magnetophotonic structures
T Goto1, A V Dorofeenko, A M Merzlikin
1Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Hibari-Ga-Oka, Tempaku, Toyohashi 441-8580, Japan.
Physical Review Letters
|October 15, 2008
Summary
We discovered a unique optical Tamm state at the interface of magnetophotonic and nonmagnetic photonic crystals. This localized surface state significantly enhances Faraday rotation, showing excellent agreement between experimental and theoretical results.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Photonics and optical materials science
Background:
- Photonic crystals offer control over light propagation.
- Magnetophotonic crystals introduce magneto-optical effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the existence of a localized surface state at the interface of 1D magnetophotonic and nonmagnetic photonic crystals.
- To investigate the properties and implications of this state, specifically its effect on Faraday rotation.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication and characterization of a heterostructure comprising 1D magnetophotonic and nonmagnetic photonic crystals.
- Spectroscopic analysis to identify the localized surface state.
- Measurement of Faraday rotation enhancement.
Main Results:
- Observation of a spectrally narrow localized surface state, the optical Tamm state, at the crystal interface.
- The optical Tamm state is located within the photonic band gaps of the constituent crystals.
- A sharp transmission peak corresponds to the optical Tamm state.
- Substantial enhancement of Faraday rotation at the wavelength of the optical Tamm state.
Conclusions:
- The existence of the optical Tamm state at the magnetophotonic/nonmagnetic photonic crystal interface is confirmed.
- This state provides a mechanism for significant magneto-optical effects like enhanced Faraday rotation.
- Experimental findings strongly support theoretical predictions for this novel optical phenomenon.
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