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Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Uncovering Hidden Dynamics of Natural Photonic Structures Using Holographic Imaging
Published on: March 31, 2022
Iridescence from photonic crystals and its suppression in butterfly scales
Leon Poladian1, Shelley Wickham, Kwan Lee
1School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. l.poladian@maths.usyd.edu.au
Abstract:
Regular three-dimensional periodic structures have been observed in the scales of over half a dozen butterfly species. We compare several of these structures: we calculate their photonic bandgap properties; measure the angular variation of the reflection spectra; and relate the observed iridescence (or its suppression) to the structures. We compare the mechanisms for iridescence suppression in different species and conclude with some speculations about form, function, development and evolution.

