Meng Xiangfeng

Asymmetric light propagation based on semi-circular photonic crystals

A new structure based on a semi-circular photonic crystal is proposed to achieve asymmetric light propagation. The semi-circular photonic crystal structure proposed in this paper is a deformation of a two-dimensional conventional square photonic crystal. Through the directional bandgap of the semi-circular photonic crystal, the light from one direction can transfer to the other side, but the light from the opposite direction cannot. A high contrast ratio is obtained by designing the constitutive parameters of the photonic crystal and choosing the suitable light frequency. This structure promises a significant potential in optical integration and other areas.

Phase-Shift Extraction and Wavefront Reconstruction in Generalized Phase-Shifting Interferometry with a Standard Phase Object

A method to extract phase shifts and reconstruct the object wave in generalized phase-shifting interferometry (GPSI) is proposed. The phase distribution of a standard phase object and the least-square method are used to extract phase shifts over a wide range from 0 to π. Consequently, the tested object wave can be further reconstructed with the extracted phase shifts. It is accurate and applicable for GPSI of any frame number N (N ≥ 2). Computer simulation has verified its feasibility and validity.

Improvement of the Focusing Resolution of Photonic Crystal Negative Refraction Imaging with a Hollow Component Structure

The negative refraction and imaging effects in photonic crystals can be used to solve diffraction limit problem in near-field optics. Improving transmission efficiency and image resolution is a critical work for negative refraction imaging. We theoretically investigate the band structures, equi-frequency surfaces, electromagnetic wave propagation, and the image intensity distributions in a two-dimensional hexagonal photonic crystal consisting of hollow components. It is found that, in contrast to a hexagonal photonic crystal consisting of solid dielectric cylinders of the same radius, photonic crystals with hollow components can be used to optimize the all-angle negative refraction. Numerical simulations show that the transmission efficiency and resolution of image can be enhanced by changing the radii of the hollow air rods.

Zero phase delay with relax incident condition in photonic crystals

Based on the wavefront modulation of photonic crystal (PhC), zero phase delay of propagating electromagnetic wave (EMW) can be realized with a relaxed incident condition in the PhC. The phase velocity is modulated perpendicular to the group velocity with wavefronts extending along the direction of energy flow, which lead to the phenomenon of zero phase delay with a finite spatial period. This effect can be realized simultaneously in both positive and negative refracted waves. The phase difference between the incident and transmitted waves are measured within a wide incident angle region to demonstrate zero phase delay can be realized easily instead of zero-n or zero-averaged-n materials. Further investigations prove that the phenomena of zero phase delay induced by this way can also be realized easily in various PhC configurations and can be accurately manipulated by changing the incident angle or the flexible design of PhC configuration.

Left-Handed Properties in Two-Dimensional Photonic Crystals Formed by Holographic Lithography

We give an analysis of the frequency distribution trends in the four lowest bands of two-dimensional square lattices formed by holographic lithography (HL) and in the lattices of the same kind but with regular dielectric columns with increasing filling ratios, and then present a comparative study on the left-handed properties in these two kinds of structures using plane wave expansion method and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. The results show that the left-handed properties are more likely to exist in structures with large high-epsilon filling ratios or in a connected lattice.

Fabrication of Two-Dimensional Photonic Crystals with Controlled Defects by Combination of Holographic Lithography and Two-Photon Polymerization

A new ternary photopolymer system is used in fabricating photonic crystals (PhCs) with controlled defects by combination of single-photon and two-photon photopolymerization. The former process can produce PhCs in one-step recording with a low-power (tens mW) continuous-wave laser at 532 nm, while the latter can create desired defects. The preparation of the material, the optical setup and the preliminary experimental results are given. Compared with other methods, this approach is much more accessible and convenient for use of visible light and has advantages of making PhCs in a large scale quickly and economically and introducing any defects exactly, especially for three-dimensional structures.