Experimental Tuning of Transport Regimes in Hyperuniform Disordered Photonic Materials

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Materials Science
• Wave Phenomena

Background:

• Hyperuniform disordered materials offer unique wave transport properties.
• Controlling wave propagation through engineered structures is crucial for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate wave transport phenomena in hyperuniform disordered arrays of cylinders.
• To explore the influence of electromagnetic wave frequency on material response.
• To identify conditions for achieving photonic band gaps.

Main Methods:

• Experiments using microwaves to probe wave transport.
• Fabrication of hyperuniform disordered arrays with high dielectric permittivity.
• Analysis of wave behavior across a range of frequencies.

Main Results:

• Observed frequency-dependent transitions between transparency, diffusion, and Anderson localization.
• Demonstrated the formation of a full photonic band gap.
• Identified a secondary, weaker band gap linked to the structure factor's second peak.

Conclusions:

• Spatial correlations at multiple length scales are critical for photonic band gap formation.
• Hyperuniformity provides a versatile platform for controlling electromagnetic wave propagation.
• The findings offer insights into designing novel photonic materials.