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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Using Microwave and Macroscopic Samples of Dielectric Solids to Study the Photonic Properties of Disordered Photonic Bandgap Materials
Published on: September 26, 2014
Comparing photonic band structure calculation methods for diamond and pyrochlore crystals
E C M Vermolen1, J H J Thijssen, A Moroz
1Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for NanoMaterials Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
This study compares Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker (KKR) and plane-wave methods for calculating photonic band gaps in colloidal diamond and pyrochlore structures. KKR calculations consistently yielded smaller band gaps than plane-wave methods, indicating potential convergence issues.
Area of Science:
- Photonic crystals
- Condensed matter physics
- Materials science
Background:
- Close-packed colloidal structures like diamond and pyrochlore are promising for photonic applications.
- Binary Laves structures offer a route to self-assembling these complex photonic crystals.
- Accurate calculation of photonic band gaps is crucial for designing functional photonic devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the photonic band diagrams of colloidal diamond and pyrochlore structures.
- To compare the results from Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker (KKR) and plane-wave calculation methods.
- To analyze the occurrence and width of band gaps in binary Laves structures and their substructures.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker (KKR) calculations.
- Employed plane-wave computational methods.
- Investigated binary Laves structures and their constituent large- and small-sphere substructures.
Main Results:
- Photonic band diagrams were computed for diamond and pyrochlore structures.
- Band gap occurrence was analyzed in Laves structures.
- KKR calculations consistently predicted narrower band gaps compared to plane-wave calculations.
- A discrepancy was observed, potentially due to plane-wave code convergence issues at sphere contact points.
Conclusions:
- Both KKR and plane-wave methods are valuable for studying photonic band structures.
- Discrepancies highlight the importance of method validation and convergence checks.
- Understanding these differences is key for reliable photonic crystal design and fabrication.
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