Effects of disorder in two-dimensional photonic crystal waveguides

Robustness of mode-locking in harmonic cavity nanolasers subjected to potential distortions

We theoretically analyze the robustness to potential distortion of mode-locking in a harmonic cavity nanolaser sustaining oscillation of Hermite-Gaussian modes. Different types of imperfections of the harmonic potential that create the Hermite-Gaussian modes are considered: the non-parabolicity of the potential and the possible random errors in the shape of the potential. The influence of the different laser parameters, including the Henry factors of the gain medium and the saturable absorber, on the robustness of the mode-locked regime is discussed in detail.

Summation of a Schlömilch type series

The ability to accurately and efficiently characterize multiple scattering of waves of different nature attracts substantial interest in physics. The advent of photonic crystals has created additional impetus in this direction. An efficient approach in the study of multiple scattering originates from the Rayleigh method, which often requires the summation of conditionally converging series. Here summation formulae have been derived for conditionally convergent Schlömilch type series ∑ s = − ∞ ∞ Z n ( | s D − x | ) × e − i n arg ⁡ ( s D − x )   e i s D sin ⁡ θ 0 , where Z n ( z ) stands for any of the following cylindrical functions of integer order: Bessel functions J n ( z ), Neumann functions Y n ( z ) or Hankel functions of the first kind H n ( 1 ) ( z ) = J n ( z ) + i Y n ( z ) . These series arise in two-dimensional scattering problems on diffraction gratings with multiple inclusions per unit cell. It is shown that the Schlömilch series involving Hankel functions or Neumann functions can be expressed as an absolutely converging series of elementary functions and a finite sum of Lerch transcendent functions, while the Schlömilch series of Bessel functions can be transformed into a finite sum of elementary functions. The closed-form expressions for the Coates's integrals of integer order have also been found. The derived equations have been verified numerically and their accuracy and efficiency has been demonstrated.

Two-dimensional Green's tensor for gyrotropic clusters composed of circular cylinders

The construction of Green's tensor for two-dimensional gyrotropic photonic clusters composed of cylinders with circular cross sections using the semi-analytic multipole method is presented. The high efficiency and accuracy of the method is demonstrated. The developed method is applied to gyrotropic clusters that support topological chiral Hall edge states. The remarkable tolerance of chiral Hall edge modes toward substantial cluster separation is revealed. The transformation of chiral Hall edge states as the cluster separation increases is also presented. The excitation of chiral Hall edge modes for different source orientations is considered. Both gyroelectric and gyromagnetic (ferrite) clusters are treated.

Study on transition from photonic-crystal laser to random laser

The dependence of the lasing threshold on the amount of positional disorder in photonic crystal structures is newly studied by means of the finite element method, not of the finite difference time domain method usually used. A two-dimensional model of a photonic crystal consisting of dielectric cylinders arranged on a triangular lattice within a circular region is considered. The cylinders are assumed to be homogeneous and infinitely long. Positional disorder of the cylinders is introduced to the photonic crystals. Optically active medium is introduced to the interspace among the cylinders. The population inversion density of the optically active medium is modeled by the negative imaginary part of dielectric constant. The ratio between radiative power of electromagnetic field without amplification and that with amplification is computed as a function of the frequency and the imaginary part of the dielectric constant, and the threshold of the imaginary part, namely population inversion density for laser action is obtained. These analyses are carried out for various amounts of disorder. The variation of the lasing threshold from photonic-crystal laser to random laser is revealed by systematic computations with numerical method of reliable accuracy for the first time. Moreover, a novel phenomenon, that the lasing threshold have a minimum against the amount of disorder, is found. In order to investigate the properties of the lasing states within the circular system, the distributions of the electric field amplitudes of the states are also calculated.

Disorder effect in the transmission spectra of a noncompact single layer of dielectric spheres derived from microwave spectroscopy

Single layers of dielectric spheres are an interesting system to study from the fundamental and applied points of view. In this paper we present a systematic study of the influence of structural disorder on the transmission spectra of arrangements of spheres of different compactness. Glass sphere (ε=7) planes were built and their transmission spectra in the microwave range measured. Transmission behavior of this system is highly tolerant to disorder. Even in completely disordered arrangements, there is a highly rejected band with the dips of the spectrum observable. These results suggest that the collective modes of the sphere planes are formed by weakly coupled Mie modes of the individual spheres, and this coupling is governed by the average distance among the spheres. Disorder tolerance allows simpler fabrication procedures where the position of the spheres does not need to be precisely controlled.

Modeling of defect modes in photonic crystals using the fictitious source superposition method

We present an exact theory for modeling defect modes in two-dimensional photonic crystals having an infinite cladding. The method is based on three key concepts, namely, the use of fictitious sources to modify response fields that allow defects to be introduced, the representation of the defect mode field as a superposition of solutions of quasiperiodic field problems, and the simplification of the two-dimensional superposition to a more efficient, one-dimensional average using Bloch mode methods. We demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the method, comparing results obtained using alternative techniques, and then concentrate on its strengths, particularly in handling difficult problems, such as where a mode is highly extended near cutoff, that cannot be dealt with in other ways.

Extrinsic optical scattering loss in photonic crystal waveguides: role of fabrication disorder and photon group velocity

Formulas are presented that provide clear physical insight into the phenomenon of extrinsic optical scattering loss in photonic crystal waveguides due to random fabrication imperfections such as surface roughness and disorder. Using a photon Green-function-tensor formalism, we derive explicit expressions for the backscattered and total transmission losses. Detailed calculations for planar photonic crystals yield extrinsic loss values in overall agreement with experimental measurements, including the full dispersion characteristics. We also report that loss in photonic crystal waveguides scales inversely with group velocity, at least, thereby raising serious questions about future low-loss applications based on operating frequencies that approach the photonic band edge.

Modeling the impact of imperfections in high-index-contrast photonic waveguides

By formulating Maxwell's equations in perturbation-matched curvilinear coordinates, we have derived rigorous perturbation theory (PT) and coupled-mode theory expansions that are applicable in the case of generic nonuniform dielectric profile perturbations in high-index-contrast waveguides, including photonic band gap fibers, and two-dimensional (2D) and 3D waveguides. PT is particularly useful in the optimization stage of a component design process where fast evaluation of an optimized property with changing controlling variables is crucial. We demonstrate our method by studying radiation scattering due to common geometric variations in planar 2D photonic crystals waveguides.

Effects of random and systematic perturbations in a one-dimensional photonic crystal wavelength converter

We study the problem of the tolerance to fabrication errors in one-dimensional photonic crystal wavelength converters. In particular we consider the case of wavelength conversion obtained via quasiphase matching (QPM) based on a periodic amplitude modulation of the fundamental wave (Bloch-mode-QPM). Both numerical simulations of a waveguide-based structure and experimental results in an AlGaAs thin-film multilayer show that the proposed QPM mechanism is extremely tolerant to both systematic and random errors in the periodicity and duty cycle of the grating.