Cylindrical photonic crystals

In this thesis, we explore the properties of cylindrical photonic crystal waveguides in which light is confined laterally by the band gap of a cylindrically-layered photonic crystal. We show in particular that axially-uniform photonic band gap waveguides can exhibit novel behavior not encountered in their traditional index-guiding counterparts. Although the effects discussed in each chapter range from hollow-core transmission to zero and negative group velocity propagation and to high-Q cavity confinement, they are all a result of the photonic band gap guiding mechanism. The reflective cladding of the photonic crystal waveguide is unique in that it allows one to confine light in a low index of refraction region, and to work with guided modes whose dispersion relations lie above the light line of air, in a region where the longitudinal wave vector of the guided mode can approach zero. Chapter 2 discusses hollow-core photonic band gap fibers that can transmit light with minimal losses by confining almost all of the electromagnetic energy to a hollow core and preventing it from entering the lossy dielectric cladding. These fibers have many similarities with hollow metallic waveguides, including the fact that they support a non-degenerate low-loss annular-shaped mode. We also account for the main differences between metal waveguides and photonic band gap fibers with a simple model based on a single parameter, the phase shift upon reflection from the photonic crystal cladding. In Chapter 3 we combine the best properties of all-dielectric and metallic waveguides to create an all-dielectric coaxial waveguide that supports a guided mode with properties similar to those of the transverse electromagnetic mode of a coaxial cable.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Physics.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Ibanescu, Mihai, 1977-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• John D. Joannopoulos.

• Physics.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/32306

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/32306