Wide-band self-collimation in a low-refractive-index hexagonal lattice

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Materials Science
• Optics

Background:

• Photonic crystals (PhCs) offer unique light manipulation properties.
• Self-collimation (SC) enables light propagation without diffraction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate wide-angle, broadband self-collimation in a hexagonal PhC.
• To investigate SC in a low-refractive-index photopolymer fabricated by multiphoton lithography.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a hexagonal PhC using multiphoton lithography.
• Optical characterization of the PhC's self-collimation properties.
• Numerical simulations to corroborate experimental results.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated wide-angle, broadband self-collimation (SC) in a hexagonal PhC.
• Achieved SC for near-infrared wavelengths from 1360 to 1610 nm.
• Observed SC even at high oblique angles of light incidence.

Conclusions:

• Hexagonal PhCs in low-refractive-index materials can achieve efficient SC.
• Multiphoton lithography is a viable technique for fabricating such PhCs.
• The demonstrated SC has potential applications in integrated optics and optical communication.