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Updated: Mar 3, 2026
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Fabrication And Characterization Of Photonic Crystal Slow Light Waveguides And Cavities
Published on: November 30, 2012
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Photonic hypercrystals for control of light-matter interactions.
Tal Galfsky1,2, Jie Gu1,2, Evgenii E Narimanov3
1Department of Physics, City College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031.
Summary
We introduce photonic hypercrystals (PHCs), a novel artificial medium combining hyperbolic metamaterials and photonic crystals. PHCs significantly enhance light-matter interaction, boosting quantum dot radiative rates and light outcoupling for advanced photonic devices.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Electronics
Background:
- Photonic crystals (PCs) control light-matter interaction via Bragg scattering.
- Metamaterials manipulate light using subwavelength unit cells.
- A need exists for platforms combining broadband density of states and efficient light scattering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and demonstrate photonic hypercrystals (PHCs).
- To combine hyperbolic metamaterial broadband properties with PC light-scattering efficiency.
- To investigate enhanced light-matter interaction in PHCs.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of artificial photonic media termed photonic hypercrystals (PHCs).
- Integration of quantum dots within the PHC structure.
- Characterization of optical properties, including radiative rate and light outcoupling.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a new class of artificial photonic media: PHCs.
- Observed a 20x enhancement in radiative rate for embedded quantum dots.
- Achieved a 100x increase in light outcoupling efficiency from PHCs.
Conclusions:
- PHCs offer a novel platform for broadband control of light-matter interaction.
- The combination of hyperbolic and photonic crystal properties yields superior optical performance.
- PHCs provide designer control over optical properties for advanced photonic applications.
